CPT® Code 15011

The CPT® Code 15011 refers to the procedure of harvesting skin for the purpose of creating a skin cell suspension autograft (SCSA). This process involves the careful selection of a donor site from which skin is extracted. The surgeon begins by evaluating the wound bed that requires treatment, measuring it, and performing calculations to ascertain the appropriate size of the donor site and the necessary volume of skin cell suspension autograft needed for the split-thickness autograft. To facilitate the harvesting of skin, the donor site is prepared by inducing a state of tumescence, which is achieved by injecting a crystalloid solution containing electrolytes into the area. This solution mimics the body’s natural fluids, allowing for the extraction of a very thin and delicate layer of skin. The actual harvesting involves removing a thin skin graft, typically between 0.0006 and 0.0008 inches deep, which includes both the epidermis and a portion of the outer dermal layer. This technique is specifically utilized for treating partial-thickness wounds. In cases where full-thickness wounds are addressed, a layered approach is employed, combining SCSA with a split-thickness skin graft, which may involve harvesting from a different healthy donor site. The code 15011 is applicable for the first 25 square centimeters of skin harvested, while code 15012 is designated for each additional 25 square centimeters or any portion thereof.