When 2nd and/or 3rd degree burns are less than 10% TBSA, how should they be coded?

When 2nd and/or 3rd degree burns are less than 10% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA), they should be coded separately. This approach aligns with medical coding practices which prioritize accurate documentation for treatment and billing purposes. Each burn is distinct in its nature and severity, and coding them separately ensures that each injury is assessed on its own merits.

By coding each burn separately, healthcare providers can provide detailed information on the extent and type of treatment required for each area affected. This is crucial for ensuring proper patient care, tracking recovery, and facilitating appropriate reimbursement from insurance providers.

In contrast, combining burns or treating them as an aggregate could lead to under- or overrepresentation of the severity and complexity of the patient's injuries, potentially impacting care and reimbursement. Ignoring these burns altogether would misrepresent the patient's condition and defeat the purpose of thorough medical documentation.