CPT® Code 15155

Tissue cultured skin autograft, face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits; first 25 sq cm or less

A tissue cultured skin autograft is a specialized surgical procedure utilized to cover defects in various anatomical areas, including the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and multiple digits. This procedure involves the harvesting of epidermal tissue from the patient, which is then processed in a laboratory setting. The harvested tissue undergoes a meticulous separation from dermal cells and is cultured in an incubator, where it is provided with essential nutrients to promote the growth of keratinocytes, the primary cells found in the epidermis. These cultured epidermal cells develop into sheets of skin that can be utilized as grafts. Once the graft is ready, it is placed in a transport medium and returned to the healthcare facility for the grafting procedure. During the procedure, the physician carefully removes the graft from the transport medium and positions it over the prepared wound bed at the recipient site. The graft is then secured in place using interrupted sutures around its periphery, although alternative methods such as staples or fibrin sealant may also be employed. This code, 15155, specifically applies to grafts that cover an area of 25 square centimeters or less, while additional codes are available for larger graft areas.