© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A skin allograft is a medical procedure involving the application of donor skin to a patient's wound for temporary closure. This procedure is particularly relevant for patients suffering from extensive burns, where the availability of the patient's own skin (autogenous skin) is insufficient to cover the affected areas. The allograft serves multiple purposes: it provides a protective covering over the wound, absorbs exudate, and prevents the wound from drying out, which is crucial for the healing process. The skin used for the allograft is typically split-thickness skin harvested from a deceased donor, ensuring that it is safe and effective for use. Prior to application, the allograft is cryopreserved and must be thawed and prepared appropriately. Once the wound bed is ready, the allograft is secured in place using absorbable sutures. Following this, a comprehensive dressing is applied, which consists of several layers: a nonadherent layer to prevent sticking to the wound, a bulky gauze layer for cushioning, a compression layer to minimize swelling, and an anti-shear layer to protect against friction. This procedure is coded as CPT® Code 15300 for the first 100 square centimeters or less in adults, or for 1% of total body surface area (TBSA) in infants and children, with additional coverage being billed under CPT® Code 15301 for each subsequent 100 square centimeters or 1% of TBSA.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
Get instant expert-level answers from CasePilot, our coding assistant.
Create a free account to unlock this content
Create a free account to unlock this content
Create a free account to unlock this content
Create a free account to unlock this content
Create a free account to unlock this content
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.