Operation:

Repair of laceration of subcutaneous and fascia of left forearm and superficial chin laceration.

Procedure Detail:

After the patient was given general anesthesia, the left forearm and chin were dressed and draped with Betadine. The left forearm laceration (3 cm) was inspected. It did appear to go through the subcutaneous tissue and fascial but not the muscle.

Three interrupted 5-0 Vicryl sutures were placed through the subcutaneous tissue. A running 6-0 silk suture was then placed through the skin.

The 2.0 cm chin laceration of the skin was closed with three interrupted 6-0 silk sutures. Gentamicin ointment was applied to the lacerations and a dressing was placed over the left eye. The patient tolerated the procedure well and left the operating room in stable condition.

Case Study 2

0JQH0ZZ Repair, Subcutaneous tissue and fascia, Left Lower Arm (0JQH)

0HQ1XZZ Repair, Skin, Face (0HQ1XZZ)

Rationale: Separate codes are needed for these separate lacerations.

They are of two distinct anatomical sites.

The forearm laceration repair was deeper than just skin and went into subcutaneous tissue/fascia. Even though the laceration caused the open wound, the approach value will still be open since it went through the skin down to a deeper layer.

The laceration and repair of the chin was skin only (also external approach).