T32.44

Billable

Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface with 40-49% 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 40-49% of the affected area.

Coding Tips

•This code indicates extensive third-degree corrosion and represents a critical injury requiring immediate specialized treatment
•Verify documentation includes both the extent of body surface involvement and the depth of injury classification

Clinical Significance

Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface area where all affected tissue (40-49%) is third-degree represents the most severe form of major chemical burn injury with extremely grave prognosis. This pattern indicates complete chemical-induced tissue destruction across the entire affected area, requiring immediate extraordinary life-sustaining interventions, specialized chemical burn protocols, and typically necessitating consideration of goals of care alongside aggressive treatment.

Documentation Requirements

✓Documentation that 40-49% of total body surface area has chemical corrosion
✓Clear documentation that all affected areas (40-49%) are third-degree
✓Identification of causative chemical and exposure circumstances
✓Comprehensive emergency decontamination and neutralization documentation
✓Assessment confirming complete tissue destruction through all skin layers
✓Evidence of immediate chemical burn center admission with maximum care capability
✓Documentation of systemic toxicity management and specialized antidotal therapy
✓Goals of care discussions and family conferences given grave prognosis

Commonly Confused Codes

T31.44 — Thermal burns 40-49% TBSA with 40-49% third degree (thermal, not chemical)T32.43 — Corrosions 40-49% TBSA with 30-39% third degree (not all third-degree)T32.33 — Corrosions 30-39% TBSA with 30-39% third degree (smaller area)T32.55 — Corrosions 50-59% TBSA with 50-59% third degree (larger area)T32.42 — Corrosions 40-49% TBSA with 20-29% third degree (much less third-degree)

Code Hierarchy

└T32Corrosions classified according to extent of body surface involved └T32.4Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface └T32.44Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface with 40-49% third degree corrosion

└T32.44Corrosions involving 40-49% of body surface with 40-49% third degree corrosion