© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The CPT® Code 12018 refers to the simple repair of superficial wounds located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, and/or mucous membranes that exceed 30.0 cm in length. This procedure is characterized by its focus on superficial wounds, which are defined as injuries that involve only the outer layers of the skin, specifically the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue. Importantly, these wounds do not penetrate deeper tissues and are not heavily contaminated, making them suitable for a straightforward repair process. During the procedure, the wound is first cleansed to reduce the risk of infection, and a local anesthetic is administered to ensure patient comfort. Following this, the wound is carefully inspected to confirm its superficial nature. The repair itself is executed using a simple, one-layer closure technique, which may involve the use of sutures, staples, or tissue adhesive. These closure methods can be utilized individually or in combination, including the potential use of adhesive strips to enhance the closure. However, it is crucial to note that methods such as chemical cautery, electrocautery, or the use of adhesive strips alone do not qualify as a simple repair closure and should instead be reported as part of an evaluation and management service. For coding purposes, there are specific codes designated for various wound sizes, with CPT® Code 12018 being applicable for wounds that exceed 30.0 cm.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The simple repair of superficial wounds of the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, and/or mucous membranes, as described by CPT® Code 12018, is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for the simple repair of superficial wounds as per CPT® Code 12018 involves several key steps:
Post-procedure care for patients who have undergone a simple repair of superficial wounds includes monitoring the wound for signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge. Patients are typically advised on how to care for the wound at home, including keeping the area clean and dry. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to assess the healing process and to remove sutures if necessary. It is important for patients to be aware of any signs that would warrant immediate medical attention, such as excessive bleeding or worsening pain.
| Short Descr | RPR F/E/E/N/L/M >30.0 CM | Medium Descr | SIMPLE REPAIR F/E/E/N/L/M >30.0 CM | Long Descr | Simple repair of superficial wounds of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips and/or mucous membranes; over 30.0 cm | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard 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) | 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply 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 | STV-Packaged Codes | ASC Payment Indicator | Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P5A - Ambulatory procedures - skin | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 171 - Suture of skin and subcutaneous tissue |
| 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). | 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.) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.