CPT® Code 15121

Add-On Code

Split-thickness autograft, face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits; each additional 100 sq cm, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) are surgical procedures that involve the transplantation of skin from one area of the body (the donor site) to another area (the recipient site) to cover wounds or defects. This type of graft includes the entire epidermis and a portion of the dermis, which is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis. Common donor sites for harvesting STSGs include the thigh, buttocks, abdominal wall, and scalp. The harvesting process typically employs a specialized instrument known as a dermatome, which allows for precise removal of the skin at a controlled thickness. Prior to harvesting, the donor site is usually injected with a local anesthetic combined with epinephrine to minimize bleeding during the procedure. The dermatome is then adjusted to the desired depth and moved across the skin in a continuous motion, applying downward pressure to obtain the graft. Once harvested, the graft may be prepared for transfer to the recipient site, which can involve techniques such as meshing to increase the graft's surface area. The final step involves placing the graft over the wound bed of the recipient site, where it is secured in place using sutures, typically consisting of four corner sutures and a running suture around the edges. CPT® Code 15121 is specifically used to report each additional 100 square centimeters of STSG performed on various anatomical sites, including the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and multiple digits, in addition to the primary procedure code.