T20.3
Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck
Choose the additional character
T20.3 needs more characters to be billable. Pick the specific code below.
- T20.30Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck, unspecified siteMore levels
- T20.31Burn of third degree of ear [any part, except ear drum]More levels
- T20.32Burn of third degree of lip(s)More levels
- T20.33Burn of third degree of chinMore levels
- T20.34Burn of third degree of nose (septum)More levels
- T20.35Burn of third degree of scalp [any part]More levels
- T20.36Burn of third degree of forehead and cheekMore levels
- T20.37Burn of third degree of neckMore levels
- T20.39Burn of third degree of multiple sites of head, face, and neckMore levels
This code does not map to a risk-adjusting HCC in the loaded models.
Coding notes
Excludes 1 never coded together · Excludes 2 may co-exist
burn and corrosion of ear drum (T28.41, T28.91) burn and corrosion of eye and adnexa (T26.-) burn and corrosion of mouth and pharynx (T28.0)
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T20
| Character | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | initial encounter |
| D | subsequent encounter |
| S | sequela |
burns and corrosions of first degree [erythema] burns and corrosions of second degree [blisters][epidermal loss] burns and corrosions of third degree [deep necrosis of underlying tissue] [full- thickness skin loss]
code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes. (T07-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (T07-T88) (T20-T32) Burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Includes: burns (thermal) from electrical heating appliances burns (thermal) from electricity burns (thermal) from flame burns (thermal) from friction burns (thermal) from hot air and hot gases burns (thermal) from hot objects burns (thermal) from lightning burns (thermal) from radiation chemical burn [corrosion] (external) (internal) scalds Excludes2: erythema [dermatitis] ab igne (L59.0) radiation-related disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L55-L59) sunburn (L55.-)
Official Guidelines for T20.3
FY 2026 ›Subsections
- I.C.19.aApplication of 7th Characters in Chapter 19
- I.C.19.bCoding of Injuries
- I.C.19.cCoding of Traumatic Fractures
- I.C.19.dCoding of Burns and Corrosions
- I.C.19.eAdverse Effects, Poisoning, Underdosing and Toxic Effects
- I.C.19.fAdult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment
- I.C.19.gComplications of care
Sections that reference T20.3
Sections whose FY 2026 text names T20.3, its T20 category, or a range containing it — the chapter guidance above is the authoritative source.