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Official Description

Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Debridement is a surgical procedure aimed at removing dead, damaged, or infected tissue to promote healing and prevent infection. In the context of CPT® Code 11047, this specific code refers to the debridement of bone, which includes the removal of epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia if performed. The procedure is essential in cases where necrotic or devascularized tissue is present, as it helps to expose healthy tissue and facilitate the healing process. The debridement process involves sharp excision techniques to ensure that all nonviable tissue is effectively removed until viable tissue is encountered, which is typically indicated by the presence of bleeding. This code is utilized for each additional 20 square centimeters of tissue debrided beyond the initial area covered by the primary procedure code. It is important to note that the physician may choose to close the wound, pack it with gauze, or place a drain after the debridement is completed, depending on the specific clinical scenario and the extent of the tissue involved.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

Debridement procedures are indicated for various conditions where the removal of nonviable tissue is necessary to promote healing and prevent complications. The following are specific indications for the use of CPT® Code 11047:

  • Necrotic Bone Removal of devascularized or necrotic bone tissue that may impede healing or contribute to infection.
  • Infected Wounds Management of infected wounds where the presence of dead tissue can hinder the healing process.
  • Chronic Ulcers Treatment of chronic ulcers that have not responded to conservative management and require surgical intervention.
  • Traumatic Injuries Addressing traumatic injuries where bone exposure and necrosis are present, necessitating debridement.

2. Procedure

The procedure for CPT® Code 11047 involves several critical steps to ensure effective debridement of bone and surrounding tissues. The following procedural steps are outlined:

  • Step 1: Assessment The physician begins by assessing the wound and surrounding tissues to determine the extent of necrosis and the need for debridement. This assessment includes evaluating the viability of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone.
  • Step 2: Anesthesia Appropriate anesthesia is administered to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. This may involve local anesthesia or sedation, depending on the extent of the debridement and the patient's condition.
  • Step 3: Debridement of Nonviable Tissue Using sharp excision techniques, the physician carefully removes all nonviable tissue, including epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and any devascularized bone. The goal is to reach viable tissue, which is indicated by the presence of bleeding.
  • Step 4: Irrigation The wound is irrigated to remove any debris and foreign material that may be present. This step is crucial for reducing the risk of infection and promoting a clean wound environment.
  • Step 5: Inspection of Viable Tissue The physician inspects the remaining tissue for viability, checking for color, consistency, contraction, and circulation. This ensures that all nonviable tissue has been adequately removed.
  • Step 6: Closure or Packing After confirming that all nonviable tissue has been excised, the physician may choose to close the wound, pack it with gauze, or place a drain, depending on the clinical scenario and the extent of the debridement performed.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care following the debridement is essential for optimal healing and recovery. Patients are typically monitored for signs of infection and complications. The wound may require regular dressing changes to maintain cleanliness and promote healing. Instructions regarding wound care, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments will be provided to the patient. The physician may also schedule follow-up visits to assess the healing process and determine if further debridement or additional interventions are necessary. Pain management strategies may be discussed to ensure patient comfort during the recovery phase.

Short Descr DBRDMT BONE EACH ADDL
Medium Descr DEBRIDEMENT BONE EACH ADDITIONAL 20 SQ CM
Long Descr Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Status Code Active Code
Global Days ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates
ASC Payment Indicator Packaged service/item; no separate payment made.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P5A - Ambulatory procedures - skin
MUE 10
CCS Clinical Classification 169 - Debridement of wound, infection or burn

This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.

11044 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC A2 Physician Quality Reporting CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less
20700 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Manual preparation and insertion of drug-delivery device(s), deep (eg, subfascial) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
20701 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Removal of drug-delivery device(s), deep (eg, subfascial) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
77 Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
F1 Left hand, second digit
F2 Left hand, third digit
F5 Right hand, thumb
FA Left hand, thumb
GF Non-physician (e.g. nurse practitioner (np), certified registered nurse anesthetist (crna), certified registered nurse (crn), clinical nurse specialist (cns), physician assistant (pa)) services in a critical access hospital
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
PD Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
PO Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital
Q8 Two class b findings
QJ Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b)
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
T5 Right foot, great toe
T6 Right foot, second digit
T9 Right foot, fifth digit
TA Left foot, great toe
Date
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Notes
2024-01-01 Changed Short Description changed.
2013-01-01 Changed Medium Descriptor changed.
2011-01-01 Added Added
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