CPT® Code 15600

Delay of flap is a surgical technique that involves a staged division of a flap to improve its blood supply, which is crucial for successful healing and integration at the recipient site. This procedure is particularly important in reconstructive surgery, where adequate vascularization is necessary to ensure that the tissue remains viable after being transferred from one area of the body to another. The term "sectioning of flap" refers to the complete division of the flap, followed by its inset at the designated recipient site. In the context of this procedure, a delay maneuver may be performed, which entails partially dividing the pedicle of the flap. This action is intended to enhance the circulation to the flap, thereby promoting better healing outcomes. Once the flap is sectioned, the surgeon will transect it and proceed to inset it into the defect at the recipient site, ensuring that it is properly positioned for optimal healing. Any portion of the flap that is not utilized during this process is typically returned to the donor site. In cases where the donor site has been previously closed with a skin graft, the graft may need to be removed and replaced with the remaining flap tissue. If additional coverage is necessary at the donor site, the surgeon may opt to apply a separately reportable skin graft or a local flap to ensure adequate closure and healing. The specific CPT® code for the delay or sectioning of a flap to the trunk is 15600, while other codes are designated for different anatomical locations, such as the scalp, arms, legs, forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands, feet, eyelids, nose, ears, or lips.