I83.221
BillableVaricose veins of left lower extremity with both ulcer of thigh and inflammation
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 383 — Diabetic Skin Ulcer and Severe Skin Conditions
0.517V24HCC 107 — Vascular Disease with Complications
0.450ESRDHCC 107 — Vascular Disease with Complications
0.000What This Code Means
Enlarged, twisted veins in the left leg with an open sore on the thigh and swelling caused by poor blood circulation.
Coding Tips
- •Verify documentation specifies both ulcer AND inflammation are present; if only one condition exists, use a different code
- •Confirm the ulcer location is specifically the thigh to distinguish from other anatomical sites (calf, ankle, heel, etc.)
Clinical Significance
Varicose veins with both ulceration and inflammation represent advanced chronic venous insufficiency requiring ongoing wound management and vascular monitoring. The combination of ulceration and inflammation indicates significant tissue compromise from chronic venous hypertension, increasing the risk of infection, cellulitis, and delayed wound healing. This diagnosis signals the need for compression therapy, wound care, and potential surgical intervention to prevent further deterioration.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documented diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower extremity
- ✓Laterality clearly specified (left lower extremity)
- ✓Ulcer location documented (thigh)
- ✓Presence of BOTH ulceration AND inflammation explicitly stated
- ✓Description of ulcer characteristics (size, depth, drainage, wound bed)
- ✓Signs of inflammation documented (erythema, warmth, edema, tenderness)
- ✓Current treatment plan for wound management and venous insufficiency
- ✓Assessment of whether condition is new, worsening, or stable
Commonly Confused Codes
I83.21x — Right lower extremity varicose veins with ulcer and inflammation; laterality must match documented sideI83.219 or I83.229 — Unspecified ulcer site; use only when the anatomical location of the ulcer cannot be determinedI83.0xx — Varicose veins with ulcer only, without inflammation; requires both ulcer AND inflammation for the I83.2xx seriesI83.1xx — Varicose veins with inflammation only, without ulcer; if no ulcer is documented, use this category insteadL97.xxx — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb; use when the ulcer is not attributable to varicose veins
Code Hierarchy
└I83Varicose veins of lower extremities└I83.2Varicose veins of lower extremities with both ulcer and inflammation└I83.22Varicose veins of left lower extremity with both ulcer and inflammation└I83.221Varicose veins of left lower extremity with both ulcer of thigh and inflammation
└I83.221Varicose veins of left lower extremity with both ulcer of thigh and inflammation