Burns of 20-29% of body surface w 10-19% third degree burns

This code signifies a burn injury affecting 20% to 29% of the patient's total body surface area (TBSA). Within this overall burn, 10% to 19% of the TBSA is specifically classified as third-degree burns, indicating full-thickness tissue destruction. The remaining burn percentage would be comprised of first and/or second-degree burns.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a total body surface area burned between 20% and 29%, with a specific breakdown indicating 10% to 19% of that total as third-degree burns. This is typically used for initial encounters for acute burn injuries requiring significant medical intervention.

• Always confirm both the total burn percentage and the specific percentage of third-degree burns from the medical record.
• Do not use this code if the third-degree burn percentage falls outside the 10-19% range, even if the total TBSA is 20-29%.
• Remember to also code for the specific burn sites (e.g., T20-T25) and any associated external cause codes (V, W, X, Y codes).