Surgery: Integumentary System

 CPT Assistant, October 2021, Volume 31, Issue 10, page 13

Question:

In the Frequently Asked Questions section (p 10) of the September 2012 issue of ??CPT® Assistant, it is advised that code 10060 or 10061 may be reported when an incision and drainage (I&D) of an abscess is performed without incision of a joint capsule or an arthrotomy. When is it appropriate to report code 26010?

Answer:

Code 26010, Drainage of finger abscess; simple, would be reported for an I&D of a cutaneous finger abscess. Code 10060, Incision and drainage of abscess (eg, carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia); simple or single, would be reported for an I&D of a simple, superficial abscess located elsewhere other than on a finger.