2025 ICD-10-CM code T22.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Injury - Burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88) Feed
Burn of unspecified degree of shoulder and upper limb, excluding wrist and hand.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter.For example, modifiers might be used to specify the location of service or the professional component versus the technical component of the treatment.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a burn requiring medical attention.Factors such as the burn's depth, extent, location, and associated complications (e.g., infection, scarring) are considered when determining the necessity of treatment.
The clinical responsibility involves assessing the burn's extent, depth, and location, determining the need for further treatment (e.g., wound care, surgery, pain management), and documenting the injury thoroughly.
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- T22- Burn and corrosion of shoulder and upper limb, except wrist and hand
In simple words: This code is for a burn on the shoulder or upper arm (not including the wrist or hand), where the severity of the burn isn't specified.Doctors will also use another code to show how much of the body was burned.
This code classifies burns of unspecified degree affecting the shoulder and upper limb, excluding the wrist and hand.Additional codes from categories T31 or T32 are required to specify the extent of body surface area involved.An additional external cause code (X00-X19, X75-X77, X96-X98, Y92) should be used to identify the source, place, and intent of the burn.
Example 1: A patient sustains a second-degree burn to their right upper arm from touching a hot stove.The burn involves approximately 5% of their total body surface area (TBSA).T22.011 would be used with an additional code from T31-T32 to specify TBSA and an external cause code to indicate the burn's source (e.g. X40)., A patient is involved in a house fire and sustains burns to their left shoulder and upper arm, the severity being unclear at the initial assessment. The extent of the burn will need further investigation.The T22.0 code is applied, awaiting further evaluation to determine TBSA and the external cause codes., A patient presents with a burn of unknown etiology on their right forearm. The burn is superficial (first-degree) and involves less than 2% TBSA. The code T22.011 would be used, and T31 would be used to specify TBSA and an external cause code would be added (unspecified) because the cause is unclear.
Detailed description of the burn's location, depth (first, second, third-degree), and extent (percentage of TBSA).Photographs or diagrams of the burn are helpful.Documentation should include information about the mechanism of injury (e.g., contact with hot object, flame, chemical exposure), treatment provided, and patient's response to treatment.
** Unspecified degree means the degree of burn must be further defined in other documentation.Always code to the highest degree of certainty.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: If a procedure is performed on the burn, the technical component (TC) modifier may be appropriate depending on the specific procedure and whether the physician personally performed it. Further information on modifier usage can be found in the relevant coding guidelines.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Burn Surgery
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office