Burns of 50-59% of body surfc w 0% to 9% third degree burns

This diagnosis code signifies a severe burn injury affecting approximately half of the patient's total body surface area. Crucially, the extent of the most severe (third-degree) burns is minimal, accounting for less than 10% of the total burned area. The remaining burned areas would be classified as first or second-degree burns.

This code is appropriate for patients presenting with extensive burns covering 50% to 59% of their body, where the deep tissue damage (third-degree burns) is limited to less than 10% of the total body surface. This typically indicates a significant portion of the burns are superficial or partial thickness. It would be used in emergency department, inpatient, or burn center settings following initial assessment and documentation of burn extent and depth.

• Ensure the physician documentation clearly specifies both the total body surface area (TBSA) burned and the percentage of third-degree burns.
• Do not use this code if the third-degree burn percentage is 10% or greater, even if the total TBSA burned falls within the 50-59% range.
• Always code additional external cause codes (e.g., X00-X19) to describe the circumstances of the burn injury.