Q: A 4 y o child is accidentally burned when his pajamas catch fire from a candle. His burns are described as 15 % first, 10 % second and 9 % third degree. What is the correct way to code this injury?

A: The revised burn rule states that in cases described this way, the first degree burns should be coded separately from the second and third. Therefore, the first degree burns are coded as 912002.1. The second and third degree burns together total 19 % so they are coded together as 912014.3. (Remember that this child is less than 5 years old.)