L89.323

Billable

Pressure ulcer of left buttock, 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 buttock involving full-thickness skin loss that extends into the subcutaneous tissue but does not expose bone, tendon, or muscle.

Coding Tips

•Stage 3 shows full-thickness skin loss with a crater-like appearance; document depth and whether undermining or tunneling is present
•Distinguish from stage 4 by confirming that bone, tendon, and muscle are not exposed

Clinical Significance

Stage 3 pressure ulcers of the left buttock involve full-thickness skin loss extending into subcutaneous tissue, representing a serious wound requiring intensive management. These wounds indicate prolonged pressure exposure and often concurrent systemic factors like malnutrition and immobility. The buttock's tissue thickness can mask the true extent of damage, making thorough wound assessment critical.

Documentation Requirements

✓Anatomical location specified as left buttock
✓Stage explicitly documented as stage 3
✓Complete wound dimensions including depth
✓Wound bed characteristics and tissue types
✓Undermining or tunneling documentation
✓Drainage assessment
✓Infection evaluation
✓Nutritional status
✓Wound care treatment plan

Commonly Confused Codes

L89.324 — Stage 4 left buttock; bone/muscle/tendon exposed L89.322 — Stage 2 left buttock; partial-thickness only L89.320 — Unstageable left buttock; wound bed obscured L89.313 — Stage 3 right buttock; laterality difference

Code Hierarchy

└L89Pressure ulcer └L89.3Pressure ulcer of buttock └L89.32Pressure ulcer of left buttock └L89.323Pressure ulcer of left buttock, stage 3

└L89.323Pressure ulcer of left buttock, stage 3