L89.143

Billable

Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 381 — Pressure Ulcer of Skin, Unstageable/Unspecified

0.000

V24HCC 158 — Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Full Thickness Skin Loss

0.662

ESRDHCC 158 — Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Full Thickness Skin Loss

0.000

What This Code Means

A stage 3 pressure sore on the left lower back with full-thickness skin loss extending into the subcutaneous tissue but not reaching muscle or bone.

Coding Tips

•Stage 3 shows full-thickness skin loss; document the depth, presence of undermining, and any visible subcutaneous fat
•Ensure the ulcer does not extend to muscle or bone, which would indicate stage 4

Clinical Significance

Stage 3 pressure ulcers of the left lower back involve full-thickness skin loss with subcutaneous tissue damage, creating a deep wound. These wounds are clinically significant because they represent a major escalation in tissue destruction requiring specialized wound care, nutritional support, and infection monitoring. The left lower back location can complicate patient positioning and pressure relief strategies.

Documentation Requirements

✓Exact anatomical location specified as left lower back
✓Stage explicitly documented as stage 3
✓Wound depth and full dimensions
✓Wound bed characteristics (granulation tissue, slough percentage)
✓Undermining or tunneling with measurements and direction
✓Drainage characteristics
✓Infection assessment
✓Treatment plan including wound care products
✓Nutritional status and support plan

Commonly Confused Codes

L89.144 — Stage 4 left lower back; bone, muscle, or tendon is exposed L89.142 — Stage 2 left lower back; partial-thickness loss only L89.140 — Unstageable left lower back; wound bed obscured L89.133 — Stage 3 right lower back; laterality difference

Code Hierarchy

└L89Pressure ulcer └L89.1Pressure ulcer of back └L89.14Pressure ulcer of left lower back └L89.143Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3

└L89.143Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3