One-liner#
Office repair of uncomplicated lacerations with appropriate anesthesia, irrigation, closure technique, and aftercare.
Don’t miss / refer urgently#
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Tendon, nerve, or vascular injury suspicion (especially hand)
- Open fracture, joint involvement, or deeply contaminated wounds
- Bites to high-risk areas or complex facial wounds (consider specialty care)
Minimum documentation#
- Mechanism and contamination risk; tetanus status and plan
- Location and length (cm), depth/layers, and complexity
- Exam documenting distal neurovascular status and tendon function when relevant
- Anesthesia and irrigation/debridement performed
- Closure type (simple/intermediate/complex), suture type, number of sutures if you track it
- Antibiotics decision and rationale (if used)
- Aftercare and follow-up for removal
Coding + RVU table scaffold#
Repair codes vary by anatomic location, length, and complexity. Use the correct code family.
| Code | Description | Units | wRVU | peRVU (non-facility) | mpRVU | Total RVU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12001 | Simple repair, 2.5 cm or less | 1 | ||||
| 12002 | Simple repair, 2.6–7.5 cm | 1 | ||||
| 12004 | Simple repair, 7.6–12.5 cm | 1 |
Follow-up#
- Suture removal timing varies by location; document your plan and return precautions.