L97.112
BillableNon-pressure chronic ulcer of right thigh with fat layer exposed
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 383 — Diabetic Skin Ulcer and Severe Skin Conditions
0.517V24HCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure
0.426ESRDHCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure
0.000RxHCCHCC 311 — Diabetic and Chronic Skin Ulcer
0.000What This Code Means
A long-lasting open sore on the right thigh that is not caused by pressure, where the fatty tissue layer underneath the skin is exposed.
Coding Tips
- •This code requires documentation of the specific depth/severity of the ulcer; fat layer exposure must be explicitly documented
- •Verify the ulcer is non-pressure related (not from bed sores or prolonged pressure) and laterality is right thigh
Clinical Significance
A non-pressure chronic ulcer of the right thigh with exposed fat layer represents a non-healing wound that has not progressed to deeper tissue involvement. These ulcers typically arise from venous insufficiency, arterial disease, or other chronic conditions, and require ongoing wound management to prevent progression to deeper stages. Under V28, superficial non-pressure chronic ulcers map to HCC 383 (Severe Skin Burn or Condition) with a RAF of 0.517, while V24 maps to HCC 161 (RAF 0.426).
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Exact anatomical location with laterality (right, left, or bilateral thigh)
- ✓Etiology of the ulcer (venous insufficiency, peripheral arterial disease, neuropathic, post-traumatic)
- ✓Wound dimensions: length x width in centimeters
- ✓Wound bed description (granulation tissue, slough, drainage characteristics)
- ✓Depth documentation confirming involvement limited to skin or fat layer
- ✓Chronicity documentation — how long the wound has been present
- ✓Vascular assessment if applicable (ankle-brachial index, pulse assessment)
- ✓Current wound care plan (cleansing, dressing type, compression if venous)
- ✓Assessment for signs of infection
- ✓Contributing comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, venous insufficiency)
Commonly Confused Codes
L97.122 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left thigh, same severity; verify correct lateralityL97.102 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified thigh; use right-specific code when laterality is documentedL97.115 — Same site with different severity; ensure the correct depth/involvement is codedL89.xxx — Pressure ulcers have different etiology (sustained pressure) and map to different HCC categories
Code Hierarchy
└L97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified└L97.1Non-pressure chronic ulcer of thigh└L97.11Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right thigh└L97.112Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right thigh with fat layer exposed
└L97.112Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right thigh with fat layer exposed