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Official Description

Acellular dermal replacement, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

An acellular dermal replacement is a specialized medical procedure utilized to address skin defects located on the trunk, arms, or legs. This procedure involves the application of a permanent skin replacement that is designed to facilitate healing and restore the integrity of the skin. The acellular dermal replacement consists of a two-layer membrane, which typically includes a dermal layer made from bovine collagen and a temporary epidermal substitute layer composed of silicone. The use of this type of replacement is particularly beneficial in cases where traditional skin grafting may not be feasible or effective. During the procedure, the acellular dermal replacement sheets are carefully removed from their packaging and rinsed in normal saline to ensure sterility. Following this, the sheets are meshed to enhance their adaptability to the wound bed. The application process involves placing the sheets over the prepared wound area and securing them with interrupted sutures or staples, ensuring that there is no overlap between the sheets. Any excess material at the edges of the wound is trimmed to fit the area precisely. After the acellular dermal replacement is in place, a layered dressing is applied to protect the site and promote healing. This dressing typically includes an elastic net fixation layer, which is secured with staples, followed by an antimicrobial layer, such as silver nitrate, and additional layers of gauze, compression, and anti-shear materials. The CPT® Code 15170 is specifically designated for the first 100 square centimeters of coverage in adults or for 1% of total body surface area (TBSA) in infants and children, while additional coverage is coded under CPT® Code 15171.

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