L97.121
BillableNon-pressure chronic ulcer of left thigh limited to breakdown of skin
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 left thigh that is not caused by pressure, affecting only the outer layer of skin.
Coding Tips
- •This represents the least severe category with skin breakdown only; no deeper tissue involvement
- •Confirm laterality is left thigh and that the ulcer is limited to skin layer
Clinical Significance
Non-pressure chronic ulcers of the lower extremity are significant indicators of underlying vascular disease, diabetes, or other systemic conditions that impair wound healing. This code captures the least severe stage with only superficial skin breakdown, but it still signals an active chronic wound requiring ongoing management and monitoring for progression to deeper tissue involvement.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Ulcer site documented as left thigh with clear laterality (left side)
- ✓Confirmation that the ulcer is chronic (present for extended duration, not acute)
- ✓Etiology documented as non-pressure (e.g., venous stasis, arterial insufficiency, diabetic, or other non-pressure cause)
- ✓Clinical assessment of wound depth and tissue involvement
- ✓Documentation that ulcer is limited to skin breakdown only — no exposure of deeper tissue layers
- ✓Wound measurements (length, width, depth) confirming superficial involvement
- ✓Assessment for signs of infection or progression beyond skin layer
Commonly Confused Codes
L97.122 — fat layer exposed; extends through dermis to subcutaneous fatL97.129 — unspecified severity; depth/severity not documentedL97.221 — right thigh; verify laterality before selecting codeL89.- — Pressure ulcer codes; use only when ulcer is caused by sustained pressure, not vascular or other non-pressure etiology
Code Hierarchy
└L97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified└L97.1Non-pressure chronic ulcer of thigh└L97.12Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left thigh└L97.121Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left thigh limited to breakdown of skin
└L97.121Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left thigh limited to breakdown of skin