T14.8

Does anyone use T14.8 for skin tear extremity? Or should I instead use superficial other specified injury? s80.92?

Brenda Hoss
Coder

Comments

  • A skin tear is a laceration / open wound.
    Code to the open wound site. 7th character with skin tears is usually "A", not "D".

    Nancy Wolverton RN,CCM
    QR Specialist, Central Office
    5800 West 10th St., Suite 300
    Little Rock, AR. 72205
    Ph# 501-280-4913
    Fax# 501-280-4385
    Nancy.Wolverton@arkansas.gov
  • edited April 2017
    Thanks, so either wound or laceration? Are they the same thing?


    Brenda Hoss
    Coder
  • A laceration is a traumatic wound

    Nancy Wolverton RN,CCM
    QR Specialist, Central Office
    5800 West 10th St., Suite 300
    Little Rock, AR. 72205
    Ph# 501-280-4913
    Fax# 501-280-4385
    Nancy.Wolverton@arkansas.gov
  • edited April 2017
    So a skin tear of left leg would be s80.922d?


    Brenda Hoss
    Coder
  • Hi J’non

    Yes, a skin tear can be “superficial”
    But in terms of ICD-10 coding, you are saying that all skin tears should be coded to T14.8, and not as an open wound?

    Per Wounds International:
    “Skin tears are traumatic injuries”
    “skin tears are perceived by some to be minor wounds. However, they can be significant and complex wounds.”

    And from the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel:: “ have established the following skin tear definition: A skin tear is a wound caused by shear, friction, and/or blunt force resulting in separation of skin layers. A skin tear can be partial-thickness (separation of the epidermis from the dermis) or full-thickness (separation of both the epidermis and dermis from underlying structures). Skin tears are acute wounds which have a high probability of becoming complex chronic wounds if not properly managed.”

    ISTAP skin tear classification: type 1: no skin loss; type 2: partial skin loss; type 3: total flap loss




    Nancy Wolverton RN,CCM
    QR Specialist, Central Office
    5800 West 10th St., Suite 300
    Little Rock, AR. 72205
    Ph# 501-280-4913
    Fax# 501-280-4385
    Nancy.Wolverton@arkansas.gov
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