L97.229
BillableNon-pressure chronic ulcer of left calf with unspecified severity
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 calf that is not caused by pressure, with the severity level not specified in the medical record.
Coding Tips
- •Query the provider for severity details, as this code indicates incomplete documentation
- •Review wound assessment documentation to determine appropriate severity level
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. While the severity is unspecified, the presence of any chronic non-pressure ulcer at this site is clinically meaningful and should prompt query for specificity to ensure accurate severity capture.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Ulcer site documented as left calf 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
- ✓Query provider for specific depth and tissue involvement to improve code specificity
- ✓Document why severity could not be determined if assessment was limited
Commonly Confused Codes
L97.221 — limited to breakdown of skin; skin breakdown only — no deeper tissue involvementL97.228 — other specified severity; severity documented but not fitting standard categoriesL97.129 — right calf; 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└L97.2Non-pressure chronic ulcer of calf└L97.22Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left calf└L97.229Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left calf with unspecified severity
└L97.229Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left calf with unspecified severity