L89.503
BillablePressure ulcer of unspecified ankle, 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 severe pressure wound (bedsore) on the ankle where the skin and underlying tissue are damaged but the deepest layers remain intact.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm stage 3 documentation shows full-thickness skin loss with exposed fat but no muscle or bone
- •Document the ankle location and any undermining or tunneling of the wound
Clinical Significance
Stage 3 pressure ulcers of the unspecified ankle involve full-thickness skin loss at a site with very limited subcutaneous tissue. The ankle's minimal soft tissue means stage 3 wounds here are particularly concerning because the malleolar bone lies just beneath the skin surface. These wounds require aggressive wound management and offloading to prevent bone involvement.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Anatomical location specified as ankle (query for laterality)
- ✓Stage explicitly documented as stage 3
- ✓Complete wound dimensions including depth
- ✓Wound bed characteristics
- ✓Assessment of proximity to periosteum or bone
- ✓Undermining or tunneling documentation
- ✓Offloading and pressure redistribution measures
- ✓Wound care treatment plan