How To Use CPT Code 11044

CPT 11044 is a medical procedure code for debridement of bone, including the removal of dead or infected tissue from the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, similar codes, and examples of CPT 11044 procedures.

1. What is CPT 11044?

CPT 11044 is a medical procedure code used to describe the surgical removal of dead, infected, or damaged tissue from bone, including the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia. This code is used by healthcare providers to bill for the first 20 square centimeters or less of debridement performed on a patient.

2. 11044 CPT code description

The official description of CPT code 11044 is: “Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less.”

3. Procedure

1. The patient is appropriately prepped and anesthetized.
2. The provider performs prolonged cleansing of the wound.
3. The provider uses a scalpel, scissors, or other appropriate instruments to remove necrotic or foreign material from the site of injured bone, also including work on the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia when needed.
4. The provider either closes the wound immediately or can delay the wound closure depending on the wound size.
5. Use CPT 11044 for debridement of up to the first 20 cm2 when debridement occurs down to bone, and also include debridement of the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia in this code.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients eligible to receive CPT code 11044 services are those with wounds or injuries that require debridement of bone, including the removal of dead, infected, or damaged tissue from the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia. This may include patients with chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, or venous stasis ulcers, as well as patients with acute injuries or infections that have resulted in tissue damage requiring debridement.

5. When to use CPT code 11044

It is appropriate to bill the 11044 CPT code when a healthcare provider performs debridement of bone, including the removal of dead, infected, or damaged tissue from the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia, for the first 20 square centimeters or less of the debridement area. This code should be used for patients with wounds or injuries that require this level of debridement to promote healing and prevent further complications.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 11044, healthcare providers must document the following information in the patient’s medical record:

• Indication for the debridement procedure, including the presence of dead, infected, or damaged tissue requiring removal.
• Size of the wound or injury requiring debridement.
• Depth of the debridement, including the involvement of bone and any other tissue layers (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia).
• Specific instruments and techniques used during the debridement procedure.
• Any complications or additional interventions required during the procedure.
• Post-procedure wound care instructions and follow-up plan.

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT code 11044, healthcare providers should be aware of the following guidelines and rules:

• Use CPT 11044 for the first 20 square centimeters or less of debridement involving bone and any other tissue layers (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia).
• For each additional 20 square centimeters of body surface debrided, use add-on code +11047.
• If the debridement does not include bone but includes muscle and fascia as well as subcutaneous tissue, dermis, and epidermis, use CPT 11043.
• For debridement of the first 20 square centimeters or less of only subcutaneous tissue, including epidermis and dermis, use CPT 11042.

8. Historical information

CPT 11044 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. The code was changed on January 1, 2011, with the previous descriptor being “Debridement; skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone.”

9. Similar codes to CPT 11044

Five similar codes to CPT 11044 and how they differentiate are:

1. CPT 11042: Debridement of only subcutaneous tissue, including epidermis and dermis, for the first 20 square centimeters or less.
2. CPT 11043: Debridement of muscle and fascia, as well as subcutaneous tissue, dermis, and epidermis, but not including bone, for the first 20 square centimeters or less.
3. CPT 11045: Debridement of skin and subcutaneous tissue for each additional 20 square centimeters or part thereof.
4. CPT 11046: Debridement of muscle and fascia for each additional 20 square centimeters or part thereof.
5. CPT 11047: Debridement of bone for each additional 20 square centimeters or part thereof, to be used as an add-on code with CPT 11044.

10. Examples

Here are 10 detailed examples of CPT code 11044 procedures:

1. A patient with a diabetic foot ulcer that has resulted in necrotic tissue and exposed bone requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
2. A patient with a pressure ulcer on the sacrum that has progressed to involve the underlying bone requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
3. A patient with a venous stasis ulcer on the lower leg that has become infected and involves the underlying bone requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
4. A patient with a traumatic injury to the foot resulting in exposed bone and damaged tissue requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
5. A patient with osteomyelitis of the heel bone requires debridement of the infected bone and surrounding tissue.
6. A patient with a post-surgical wound infection involving the underlying bone requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
7. A patient with a chronic wound on the ankle that has resulted in exposed bone and damaged tissue requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
8. A patient with a non-healing wound on the forearm that has progressed to involve the underlying bone requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
9. A patient with a burn injury that has resulted in exposed bone and damaged tissue requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.
10. A patient with a gunshot wound that has resulted in exposed bone and damaged tissue requires debridement of the bone and surrounding tissue.