L89.123
BillablePressure ulcer of left upper back, stage 3
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 381 — Pressure Ulcer of Skin, Unstageable/Unspecified
0.000V24HCC 158 — Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Full Thickness Skin Loss
0.662ESRDHCC 158 — Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Full Thickness Skin Loss
0.000What This Code Means
A stage 3 pressure ulcer (bedsore) on the left upper back where the skin and underlying tissue are damaged but the bone is not exposed.
Coding Tips
- •Stage 3 indicates full-thickness skin loss with damage to subcutaneous tissue; document the specific anatomical location clearly
- •Verify stage documentation in clinical notes as this affects severity coding and reimbursement
Clinical Significance
Stage 3 pressure ulcers of the left upper back represent full-thickness skin loss extending into subcutaneous tissue, appearing as a deep crater without exposure of bone, tendon, or muscle. These indicate significant tissue destruction requiring intensive wound management and are associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and higher care costs. Accurate capture is essential for risk adjustment as these reflect substantial patient complexity.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Exact anatomical location specified as left upper back
- ✓Stage explicitly documented as stage 3 by the provider
- ✓Wound depth measurement and description of wound bed (subcutaneous fat may be visible)
- ✓Wound dimensions (length x width x depth in centimeters)
- ✓Presence and extent of undermining or tunneling with clock-face directional documentation
- ✓Wound bed characteristics (granulation tissue, slough, necrotic tissue percentages)
- ✓Drainage type (serous, sanguineous, purulent) and amount
- ✓Surrounding skin condition and evidence of infection
- ✓Current treatment plan including wound care products and repositioning schedule
Commonly Confused Codes
L89.124 — Stage 4 left upper back; use when bone, muscle, tendon, or joint capsule is exposedL89.122 — Stage 2 left upper back; use when only partial-thickness loss is presentL89.120 — Unstageable left upper back; use when eschar/slough prevents stagingL89.113 — Stage 3 right upper back; laterality difference
Code Hierarchy
└L89Pressure ulcer└L89.1Pressure ulcer of back└L89.12Pressure ulcer of left upper back└L89.123Pressure ulcer of left upper back, stage 3
└L89.123Pressure ulcer of left upper back, stage 3