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Official Description

Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, trunk; defect 10 sq cm or less

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

An adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement is a surgical procedure aimed at addressing defects located on the trunk of the body. These defects can arise from various causes, including traumatic wounds, lacerations, or surgical excisions of lesions or scars. In cases where a lesion or scar is present, the initial step involves excising this tissue to create a primary defect. The surgeon then evaluates the primary defect to determine the most suitable method for tissue transfer or rearrangement. Various techniques may be employed, including Z-plasty, W-plasty, V-Y-plasty, rotation flaps, advancement flaps, or double pedicle flaps. During the procedure, adjacent skin and subcutaneous tissue are carefully incised and elevated, ensuring that one or more borders of the tissue remain attached, which results in the formation of a secondary defect. To facilitate the movement of the skin flaps, the surrounding tissue is undermined. The next step involves transferring or rearranging the tissue to effectively cover the primary defect. Depending on the situation, the transfer may also address the secondary defect, or alternatively, the secondary defect may be closed using a separately reportable skin graft. Accurate measurement of both the primary and secondary defects is essential to determine the appropriate coding, with CPT® Code 14000 designated for defects measuring 10 square centimeters or less, and CPT® Code 14001 applicable for defects ranging from 10.1 to 30 square centimeters.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure of adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Traumatic Wounds The procedure is performed to repair defects resulting from injuries or accidents that have caused damage to the skin and underlying tissues of the trunk.
  • Lacerations Adjacent tissue transfer may be necessary for lacerations that have created significant defects requiring surgical intervention for proper closure and healing.
  • Surgically Created Defects This includes defects that arise from the excision of lesions or scars, necessitating reconstruction to restore the integrity of the trunk's skin.

2. Procedure

The procedure involves several critical steps to ensure effective repair of the defect:

  • Step 1: Evaluation of the Primary Defect The surgeon begins by assessing the primary defect, which may be a result of trauma or surgical excision. This evaluation is crucial to determine the most appropriate technique for tissue transfer or rearrangement.
  • Step 2: Excision of Lesion or Scar If a lesion or scar is present, it is excised to create a clean primary defect that can be addressed through the adjacent tissue transfer technique.
  • Step 3: Selection of Transfer Technique Based on the characteristics of the primary defect, the surgeon selects an appropriate method for tissue transfer or rearrangement. Techniques may include Z-plasty, W-plasty, V-Y-plasty, rotation flap, advancement flap, or double pedicle flap.
  • Step 4: Incision and Elevation of Tissue Adjacent skin and subcutaneous tissue are incised and elevated, ensuring that one or more borders of the tissue remain attached. This step is essential for creating a secondary defect that will facilitate the transfer.
  • Step 5: Undermining Surrounding Tissue The surrounding tissue is undermined to allow for adequate mobilization of the skin flaps, which is necessary for effective coverage of the primary defect.
  • Step 6: Transfer or Rearrangement of Tissue The elevated tissue is then transferred or rearranged to cover the primary defect. The configuration may also address the secondary defect, or the secondary defect may be closed with a separately reportable skin graft.
  • Step 7: Measurement of Defects Finally, both the primary and secondary defects are measured to determine their sizes, which is critical for accurate coding and billing.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care involves monitoring the surgical site for signs of infection and ensuring proper healing of the tissue transfer. Patients may be advised on wound care techniques to maintain cleanliness and promote healing. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled to assess the healing process and to address any complications that may arise. The surgeon will provide specific instructions regarding activity restrictions and any necessary follow-up treatments, including the potential need for additional procedures if the secondary defect requires closure with a skin graft.

Short Descr TIS TRNFR TRUNK 10 SQ CM/<
Medium Descr ADJACENT TISSUE TRANSFER/REARGMT TRUNK 10 SQCM/<
Long Descr Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, trunk; defect 10 sq cm or less
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
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) 1 - Statutory 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 Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies
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) P6A - Minor procedures - skin
MUE 2
CCS Clinical Classification 172 - Skin graft

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

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)
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.)
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.
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.)
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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.
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).
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.
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
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).
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
E1 Upper left, eyelid
ET Emergency services
GJ "opt out" physician or practitioner emergency or urgent service
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
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
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
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
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
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Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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