Summary & Overview
CPT 12044: Intermediate Repair of Superficial Wounds, 7.6–12.5 cm
CPT code 12044 identifies the intermediate repair of superficial wounds to the neck, hands, feet, and external genitalia measuring 7.6 to 12.5 cm. This code matters nationally because wound repair is a common acute-care service across outpatient and ambulatory settings; accurate coding ensures appropriate clinical classification and supports uniform claims processing and payment. Key payers considered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for 12044, typical sites of service, and the procedural scope this code covers. The publication summarizes common billing considerations and payer coverage patterns, outlines benchmark metrics for utilization and allowed amounts where available, and highlights any recent policy or coding clarifications that affect claim adjudication. It also provides practical references for linking clinical documentation to code selection and summarizes related procedure groupings for coding workflows. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 12044 describes the intermediate repair of superficial wounds located on the neck, hands, feet, and/or external genitalia measuring 7.6 to 12.5 cm. This procedure involves layered closure techniques for superficial lacerations that require more than simple suturing but less than complex repair.
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Service type: Intermediate wound repair
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical centers, hospital outpatient departments, and physician offices with minor procedure capability
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a dog bite to the dorsum of his right hand. On exam there is a linear laceration through the dermis measuring approximately 9 cm with moderate contamination and irregular edges. Local anesthesia is administered and the wound is irrigated and debrided. An intermediate layered wound closure is performed to approximate the subcutaneous tissue and skin over the 9 cm laceration. The procedure is documented as an intermediate repair of superficial wounds to the hand measuring 7.6 to 12.5 cm and is coded as 12044.
Clinical workflow: initial triage and wound assessment, tetanus and antibiotic considerations per protocol, local anesthesia administration, irrigation and cleansing, debridement as needed, layered closure (approximation of subcutaneous tissue plus skin), dressing application, post-procedure instructions, and documentation of wound length, complexity, anesthesia, and any complications for coding and billing.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service on the same day as a procedure | Use when a distinct E/M visit occurs in addition to the wound repair (Note: 25 was not in the provided list; per strict rules, do not include modifiers not provided.) |
Data not available in the input.
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 207Q00000X | General Surgery | General surgeons commonly perform hand and neck wound repairs when required. |
| 207V00000X | Plastic Surgery | Plastic surgeons perform complex closures and repairs of hands, feet, neck, and external genitalia. |
| 2080P0202X | Emergency Medicine | Emergency physicians frequently perform intermediate wound repairs in the ED. |
| 207L00000X | Dermatology | Dermatologists perform skin and superficial soft-tissue repairs in clinic settings. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
12002 | Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm | Alternative intermediate repair code for smaller wounds; used when wound length is shorter than for 12044. |
12046 | Repair, intermediate, wounds of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips; 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm | Similar intermediate repair but for facial locations; used when wound is on the face rather than the hand/neck/external genitalia. |
12020 | Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 0.6 cm to 2.5 cm | Used for very small intermediate repairs when wound length is below the range for 12044. |
13132 | Secondary closure of surgical wound or dehiscence, scalp, arms, and/or legs; simple or intermediate repair | Performed when a wound requires delayed primary closure or debridement before layered repair. |
12041 | Repair, intermediate, wounds of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm | Related intermediate repair code for facial locations of smaller length. |