CPT® Code 15157

Add-On Code

Tissue cultured skin 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)

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. In the lab, the epidermal cells, known as keratinocytes, are separated from the underlying dermal cells and cultured in a controlled environment, allowing them to proliferate and form sheets of skin. These cultured grafts are essential for treating significant skin loss or damage, providing a viable option for wound coverage. Once the grafts are prepared, they are transported back to the surgical facility in a suitable medium to maintain their viability. During the grafting procedure, the physician carefully removes the graft from its transport medium and positions it over the prepared wound bed. The graft is then secured in place using interrupted sutures, although alternative fixation methods such as staples or fibrin sealant may also be employed. This procedure is particularly relevant for larger areas of skin loss, as indicated by the coding structure that allows for additional units of grafting based on surface area, specifically for adults and the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) for infants and children.