T32.42

Billable

Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface with 20-29% third degree corrosion

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 385 — Severe Skin Burn or Condition

0.350

V24HCC 162 — Severe Skin Burn or Condition

0.517

ESRDHCC 162 — Severe Skin Burn or Condition

0.000

What This Code Means

Chemical burn affecting 40-49% of the body surface, with the most severe burns (third degree) covering 20-29% of the affected area.

Coding Tips

•Ensure the third-degree percentage is documented separately from the total body surface area involved
•These codes indicate moderate to severe corrosion injuries requiring specialized burn center care

Clinical Significance

Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface area with 20-29% third-degree involvement represent critical chemical burn injury with extremely high mortality risk requiring immediate life-saving interventions. This extensive chemical exposure pattern involves significant full-thickness tissue destruction alongside potential systemic toxicity, demanding specialized chemical burn center care with comprehensive toxicological support and intensive surgical intervention.

Documentation Requirements

✓Documentation of 40-49% total body surface area chemical corrosion
✓Clear documentation that 20-29% of affected area has third-degree corrosion
✓Identification of causative chemical agent and exposure details
✓Comprehensive emergency decontamination and neutralization documentation
✓Assessment of ongoing chemical activity and progressive tissue damage
✓Evidence of immediate chemical burn center admission
✓Documentation of systemic toxicity monitoring and specific antidotal therapy
✓Surgical planning for extensive debridement and reconstruction

Commonly Confused Codes

T31.42 — Thermal burns 40-49% TBSA with 20-29% third degree (thermal, not chemical)T32.41 — Corrosions 40-49% TBSA with 10-19% third degree (less third-degree)T32.43 — Corrosions 40-49% TBSA with 30-39% third degree (more third-degree)T32.32 — Corrosions 30-39% TBSA with 20-29% third degree (smaller total area)T32.52 — Corrosions 50-59% TBSA with 20-29% third degree (larger total area)

Code Hierarchy

└T32Corrosions classified according to extent of body surface involved └T32.4Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface └T32.42Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface with 20-29% third degree corrosion

└T32.42Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface with 20-29% third degree corrosion