ICD-10 Code for Pressure ulcer of right heel, unstageable- L89. 610- Codify by AAPC.
Assignment of the ICD-10 code for unstageable pressure ulcer (L89. 000) should be based on the clinical documentation.
A: The coder would report ICD-10-CM code I96 (gangrene, not elsewhere classified) as the principal diagnosis because of the “code first” note under code category L89. - (pressure ulcer). The coder would then report ICD-10-CM code L89. 623 (pressure ulcer of left heel, stage 3), as a secondary diagnosis.
Pressure ulcer of unspecified site, unspecified stage L89. 90 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM L89. 90 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Pressure ulcer of unspecified site, unstageable L89. 95 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM L89. 95 became effective on October 1, 2021.
“Deep tissue injury” is currently indexed to “ulcer, pressure, unstageable, by the site.” However, unstageable ulcers can only be Stage 3 or 4, by definition (“full-thickness skin and tissue loss in which the extent of tissue damage within the ulcer cannot be confirmed because it is obscured by slough or eschar.
ICD-10 code category L89. 4- is used to report pressure ulcers that span multiple body parts, (contiguous site of back, buttock, and hip).
Pressure ulcer/injury codes are all located in category L89 of the ICD-10-CM code book.
While diabetic patients can get pressure ulcers due to abuse or neglect in a nursing home, diabetic ulcers may appear in areas that are not typically subject to extended pressure—such as the bottoms of the feet when a resident has been lying down. In these cases, a diagnosis of a diabetic ulcer is more apt.
Pressure ulcers (also known as pressure sores or bedsores) are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue, primarily caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. They can happen to anyone, but usually affect people confined to bed or who sit in a chair or wheelchair for long periods of time.
Stage 1: Intact skin with non- blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence. Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its color may differ from surrounding area. Stage 2: Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough.
Pressure ulcers are localized areas of tissue necrosis that typically develop when soft tissue is compressed between a bony prominence and an external surface for a long period of time. Ulcers covered with slough or eschar are by definition unstageable.
Unstageable - Full thickness tissue loss in which the base of the ulcer is covered by slough (yellow, tan, gray, green or brown) and/or eschar (tan, brown or black) in the wound bed.
ICD-10 code category L89. 4- is used to report pressure ulcers that span multiple body parts, (contiguous site of back, buttock, and hip).
Eschar is a type of necrotic tissue that is dryer than slough, adheres to the wound bed, and has a spongy or leather-like appearance.
Sixth character options for pressure ulcers: Stasis ulcer coding begins with either I83. 0- (Varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer) or I83. 2- (Varicose veins of lower extremities with both ulcer and inflammation). Both of these require a fifth character and those options are listed below.
L89.61. Non-Billable means the code is not sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital when used a principal diagnosis. Use a child code to capture more detail. ICD Code L89.61 is a non-billable code.
Specialty: Plastic Surgery. MeSH Code: D003668. ICD 9 Code: 707.0. Classification of ulcers.