ICD-10 - Skin Necrosis Following Breast Reconstruction

Question:

I’m having difficulty with the ICD-10 code assignment. Can KZA provide some guidance? A patient following breast reconstruction presented during the postoperative period with skin necrosis at the incision site.

Answer:

Thank you for your question!

Based on the information provided, two ICD-10 codes would be reported: one for the postoperative complication of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, ICD-10 L76.82, and one for skin necrosis, ICD-10 I96.

Some may stop at L76.82 alone. However, ICD-10 provides additional instruction located under L76.8. The instruction states, “Use additional code, if applicable, to further specify the disorder.”

*This response is based on the best information available as of 7/31/25.