A 5-year-old is brought to the QuickCare in the ED to repair two lacerations: a 3 cm laceration on her right arm and 2 cm laceration on her nose. Her arm is repaired with a simple one-layer closure with sutures. Her nose is repaired with a simple repair using tissue adhesive, 2-cyanoacrylate. How are the repairs reported?

According to the CPT® guidelines for Repair (Closure), the use of tissue adhesive as the sole material for a simple laceration repair is not reported with a separate CPT code. This service is considered part of the Evaluation and Management (E/M) service provided. Therefore, the 2 cm laceration on the nose repaired with tissue adhesive is not coded. The 3 cm simple laceration on the arm, repaired with sutures, is coded. The CPT code series for simple repairs of the extremities is 12001-12007. Code 12002 represents a simple repair of the extremities measuring 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm, which accurately describes the 3 cm arm laceration.

A. 12013: This code is for a simple repair of the face/nose, but the method (tissue adhesive) is not separately reportable with a repair code.
B. 12032, 12041-59: These codes describe intermediate-level repairs, whereas the scenario specifies simple repairs for both lacerations.
D. 12002, 12011-59: This option incorrectly reports the nose repair (12011). Simple closure with tissue adhesive is included in the E/M service.

1. American Medical Association (AMA). (2023). CPT® 2024 Professional Edition.

Section: Integumentary System

Repair (Closure)

Introduction.

Page/Paragraph: In the introductory guidelines for Repair (Closure)

it is stated: "The use of tissue adhesive as the sole repair material is included in the fee for the evaluation and management (E/M) service and is not separately reportable."

Code Descriptor for 12002: "Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp

neck

axillae

external genitalia

trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm."

2. AAPC. (2023). CPC® Official Study Guide.

Chapter: Integumentary System

Section on Repair (Closure).

Page/Paragraph: The study guide reiterates the AMA CPT® guideline that simple wound closure using only tissue adhesive is bundled into the E/M service and should not be coded using the repair codes (12001-12018). It clarifies that these codes are for closures using sutures

staples

or wound tapes.