Lastly, code (s): E for external cause code (s) External Cause – To identify the source, place, and intent of the burn. Agent – To identify the chemical substance of the corrosion. ICD-10-CM guidelines recommend reporting appropriate external cause codes for burn patients.
The External Cause of Injuries index contains codes found in Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning & certain other consequences of external causes , and Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, of the ICD-10-CM. The codes begin with the letters S and T for Chapter 10, and V, W, X, and Y in Chapter 20.
The likelihood for a medical coder to have to code a burn case is extremely high. Here’s what you need to know. A burn is tissue damage with partial or complete destruction of the skin caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or nuclear radiation.
Third-degree burns indicate full-thickness tissue loss with damage or complete destruction of both layers of skin (including hair follicles, oil glands, & sweat glands) ICD-10 Coding Using the “Rules of Nines” You need at least three codes to properly report burn diagnoses: First-listed code (s): S/S for site and severity (categories T20-T25)
Second degree chemical burn of multiple right fingers, including thumb. Second degree chemical burn of multiple sites of face, head, or neck. Second degree chemical burn of multiple sites of left ankle and foot. Second degree chemical burn of multiple sites of left leg, except ankle and foot.
Third degree chemical burn of multiple sites of left shoulder and arm excluding wrist and hand. Third degree chemical burn of multiple sites of left shoulder and arm, except wrist and hand. Third degree chemical burn of multiple sites of left wrist and hand.
Burn Types. A burn is tissue damage with partial or complete destruction of the skin caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or nuclear radiation. Proper selection of burn codes requires consideration of the location of the burn, severity, extent, and external cause in addition to laterality and encounter.
Second-degree burns indicate blistering with damage extending beyond the epidermis partially into the layer beneath it (dermis) Third-degree burns indicate full-thickness tissue loss with damage or complete destruction of both layers of skin (including hair follicles, oil glands, & sweat glands)
ICD-10 makes a distinction between burns and corrosions: Burn codes apply to thermal burns (except sunburns) that come from a heat source, such as fire, hot appliance, electricity, and radiation. Corrosions are burns due to chemicals.
According to the American Burn Association, an estimated 486,000 hospital admissions and visits to hospital emergency departments occur annually for burn evaluation and treatment in the United States.
The descriptions of codes in the T20-T28 range are first defined by an anatomical location of the body affected by burn or corrosion.