Medical Coding and Billing Training

BURNS  ICD CODING  :- [940-949]

 

BURNS:- A burn is a type of  injury that may be caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. Burns can be highly variable in terms of the tissue affected, the severity, and resultant complications. Muscle, bone, blood vessel, dermal and epidermal tissue can all be damaged with subsequent pain due to profound injury to nerves. Depending on the location affected and the degree of severity. The specific code assignment will depend

on the site and depth of the burn.

 CODING GUIDELINES FOR BURNS: –   Skin is made up of 3 layers.

 1^st Epidermis [outer most layer] – 1^st degree burn.

 2^nd Dermis [leather and thick layer] – 2^nd degree burn.

 3^rd Subcutaneous [fat/ full thickness] – 3^rd degree burn,

Here all layers of skin burn.

 First code the highest degree burn that is 3rd degree burn, then 2^nd degree burn precedence over 1^st degree burn.

 EXTENT OF BURN:-

 Code 948 classifies burns according to the extent of body surface involved.

 4^th digit indicates the total % of the body surface.

 5^th digit indicates % of 3^rd degree burns.

 Category 948 can be assigned as primary diagnosis when the site is mentioned, if the site is not mentioned, assign as secondary diagnosis.

 If the location is not mentioned, code the extent of the burn 948 series, if the location is mentioned code degree of burn and extent.

 Example:-

◦948.3 1      4^th digit   30°- 39°   The total body burn area

                    5^th digit 10°- 19°  The third degree burn.

 948.6 6    4^th digit 60°- 69°  The total body burn area.

                 5^th digit 60°-69°   The third degree burn.

 BURNS EXAMPLES:-

 1.  2^nd degree burn on the toes

 Code: 945.21

 2.  3^rd degree burn of the lower leg

 Code: 945.34

 3.  Sun burn of the face

 Code: 692.71

 1^st degree burn face and eyes

 Code: 941.12

 1^st degree burn 9%, 2^nd degree burn 18%m 3^rd degree burn 36%

 Code: 948.63 [extent codes only because it’s not mentioning any site of the organ]

 2^nd degree burn 30% and 3^rd degree burn 10%

 Code: 948.41

 3^rd degree burn of the thigh with 18%

 Code:       945.36   [3^rd degree burn of the thigh]

 948.11    [extent code]

 1^st degree burn foot 10%, 2^nd degree burn knee 10%, 3^rd degree burn wrist 10%

 Code:       944.37 [3^rd degree burn wrist]

                 945.25 [2^nd degree burn knee]

                 945.12 [1^st degree burn foot]

 Extent Code: 948.31

 3^rd degree burn of the leg and 2^nd degree burn of the forearm.

 Code: 945.30 [3rd degree burn leg]

943.21 [2nd degree burn forearm]

 There is no extent code because the percentage of the burn is not mentioned.

 10. Patient presented to the Emergency Department [ED] with the 3^rd degree burn palm 5%, 2^nd degree burn face 5%, and 1st degree burn foot 10%. Patient is also complaint of dehydration. Patient has allergy to penicillin.

 Code:       944.35 [3^rd degree burn palm]

                 941.20 [2^nd degree burn face]

                 945.12 [1^st degree burn foot]

 Extent Code: 948.20

 Dehydration ICD Coding:  276.51

 Allergy to penicillin: V14.0

 11.3^rd degree burn elbow 9%, 2^nd degree burn ankle 6%, 2^nd degree burn face 3%, 3^rd degree burn knee 6%, 2^nd degree burn on multiple side of the lower limb [leg] with loss of body[sever burn] due to 3^rd degree burn.

 Code: 943.32 [3^rd degree burn elbow]

                 945.23 [2^nd degree burn ankle]

                 941.20 [2^nd degree burn face]

                 945.35 [3^rd degree burn knee]

                 945.29 [2^nd degree burn lower limb-leg]

 Extent Code: 948.21

 Loss of body: 945.50

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