Debridement CPT Coding Guideline

Post Last Updated on 18 Feb 2026

What is Debridement ?

Debridement is a medical procedure in which dead (necrotic), damaged, or infected tissue is removed from a wound to promote proper healing.

What are the medical necessity of debridement ?

• Chronic wounds

• Pressure ulcers

• Burns

• Traumatic wounds

• Surgical site infections

Debridement Integumentary System

CPT code range for Incision and Drainage

Debridment of eczematous or infected skin

11000 : Debridment of extensive eczematous or infected skin; up to 10% of body surface

11001 : Debridement of extensive eczematous or infected skin; each additional 10% of the body surface, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Debridment at the site of Fracture

11010 : Debridement including removal of foreign material at the site of an open fracture and/or an open dislocation (eg, excisional debridement); skin and subcutaneous tissues

11011 : Debridement including removal of foreign material at the site of an open fracture and/or an open dislocation (eg, excisional debridement); skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle fascia, and muscle

11012 : Debridement including removal of foreign material at the site of an open fracture and/or an open dislocation (eg, excisional debridement); skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle fascia, muscle, and bone

Debridement upto subcutaneous tissue

11042 : Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less

+11045 : Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed); each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Debridement upto muscle or fascia

11043 : Debridement, muscle and/or fascia (includes epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less

+11046 : Debridement, muscle and/or fascia (includes epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, if performed); each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Debridment upto bone

11044 : Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less

11047 : Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Selective Debridement

97597 : Debridement (eg, high pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp selective debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps), open wound, (eg, fibrin, devitalized epidermis and/or dermis, exudate, debris, biofilm), including topical application(s), wound assessment, use of a whirlpool, when performed and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per session, total wound(s) surface area; first 20 sq cm or less

+97598 : Debridement (eg, high pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp selective debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps), open wound, (eg, fibrin, devitalized epidermis and/or dermis, exudate, debris, biofilm), including topical application(s), wound assessment, use of a whirlpool, when performed and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per session, total wound(s) surface area; each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Type of Debridment in Integumentary System

1.Excisional Debridement : Tool like scalpel, scissors, curette are used for Sharp removal of tissue.

2.Non-Excisional Debridement : Removal of non-viable tissue without cutting ,so tissue is removed by brushing, irrigation, scrubbing, or washing.

3.Selective Debridement : Selective debridement is a wound-care procedure where a phsycian removes non-viable (dead), infected, or contaminated tissue from a wound while preserving healthy tissue.

It’s called selective because the clinician carefully targets only the tissue that needs to be removed.

Coding guideline for Incision and drainage

1. The code for debridment is selected based on the depth upto which it is debrided.

2. The debridment code is selected based on area that is debrided.

3. Sum the area of debridement perform at any region for same depth.

4. Code the deepest level of debridment if performed at same region like bone,muscle or Subcutaneous.

5. For debridment at the site of fracture, there are different CPT code category.

Notes: If the tissue removed is only at the epidermis/dermis level, then it may be appropriate to report active wound care management codes (97597-97598), based on the total surface area removed.

Scenario Question 1

Which code should be reported?

A. 97597 – Active wound management (selective debridement)

B. 11042 – Debridement, subcutaneous tissue

C. 97602 – Nonselective debridement

D. 11044 – Debridement, bone

Answer : If the tissue removed is at a subcutaneous tissue level or deeper, it is appropriate to report codes 11042–11047, depending on:

• The deepest level of tissue removed, and

• The total surface area debrided at that depth.

Code 97597 is used for selective debridement of epidermis and/or dermis only, not when subcutaneous tissue is involved.