ICD-9 Code 949.2 Blisters, epidermal loss [second degree], unspecified site. ICD-9 Index; Chapter: 800–999; Section: 940-949; Block: 949 Burn, unspecified; 949.2 - 2nd degree burn NOS
949 Burn unspecified site; 949.0 Burn of unspecified site, unspecified degree convert 949.0 to ICD-10-CM; 949.1 Erythema [first degree], unspecified site convert 949.1 to ICD-10-CM; 949.2 Blisters, epidermal loss [second degree], unspecified site convert 949.2 to ICD-10-CM; 949.3 Full-thickness skin loss [third degree nos] convert 949.3 to ICD-10-CM
2012 ICD-9-CM Codes 940-949 : Burns. 940 Burn confined to eye and adnexa. 941 Burn of face head and neck. 942 Burn of trunk. 943 Burn of upper limb except wrist and hand. 944 Burn of wrist (s) and hand (s) 945 Burn of lower limb (s) 946 Burns of multiple specified sites. 947 Burn of internal organs.
2012 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Codes 945.*. : Burn of lower limb (s) 945 Burn of lower limb (s) 945.0 Burn of lower limb (s) unspecified degree. 945.00 Burn of unspecified degree of lower limb [leg], unspecified site convert 945.00 to ICD-10-CM. 945.01 Burn of unspecified degree of toe (s) (nail) convert 945.01 to ICD-10-CM.
945.49 Deep necrosis of underlying tissues [deep third degree] without mention of loss of a body part, of multiple sites of lower limb (s) convert 945.49 to ICD-10-CM
945.42 Deep necrosis of underlying tissues [deep third degree] without mention of loss of a body part, of foot convert 945.42 to ICD-10-CM
943.09Burn of unspecified degree of multiple sites of upper limb, except wrist and handconvert 943.09 to ICD-10-CM
943.00Burn of unspecified degree of upper limb, except wrist and hand, unspecified siteconvert 943.00 to ICD-10-CM
943.53Deep necrosis of underlying tissues [deep third degree] with loss of a body part, of upper armconvert 943.53 to ICD-10-CM
943.4Deep necrosis of underlying tissues due to burn (deep third degree) of upper limb except wrist and hand without mention of loss of a body part
943.49Deep necrosis of underlying tissues [deep third degree] without mention of loss of a body part, of multiple sites of upper limb, except wrist and handconvert 943.49 to ICD-10-CM
943.41Deep necrosis of underlying tissues [deep third degree] without mention of loss of a body part, of forearmconvert 943.41 to ICD-10-CM
943.16Erythema [first degree] of scapular regionconvert 943.16 to ICD-10-CM
Both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM guidelines address coding burns classified according to the extent of body surface involved. In ICD-9-CM, the codes under 948 Burns classified according to extent of body surface involved are used. In ICD-10-CM, the codes under T31 Burns classified according to extent of body surface involved or T32 Corrosions classified according to extent of body surface involved are used.
Report these codes when the provider doesn’t specify the site of the patient’s burns in the medical record, or when there is a need for additional data. Burn units often accumulate this data to evaluate burn mortality. The guidelines also suggest using these codes when there is mention in the documentation of a third-degree burn involving 20 percent or more of the body surface area.
In ICD-9-CM, the fourth digit identifies the percentage of total body surface with all degrees of burns. The fifth digit identifies the percentage of the patient’s body surface with third-degree burns. Although a table of fifth digit options is not provided in ICD-10-CM, the codes follow the same general pattern as ICD-9-CM.
Example: A patient has burns on 75 percent of his body surface. Approximately 1/3 (33 percent) of his body surface has third-degree burns.
Many patients suffer from burns in multiple anatomical locations. When coding these cases:
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)
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.
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.
The required fourth character identifies the percentage of the patient’s entire body affected by burns. The fifth character identifies the percentage of the patient’s body that is suffering from third-degree burns or corrosions only.
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 fifth character reports additional details regarding the anatomical site of the burn.
The descriptions of codes in the T20-T28 range are first defined by an anatomical location of the body affected by burn or corrosion.