L97.315

Billable

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right ankle with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 380 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure

0.426

V24HCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure

0.426

ESRDHCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure

0.000

RxHCCHCC 311 — Diabetic and Chronic Skin Ulcer

0.000

What This Code Means

A long-lasting open sore on the right ankle that is not caused by pressure, with muscle tissue involved but no dead tissue.

Coding Tips

•Document that muscle is involved but there is no necrosis present to distinguish from L97.314
•Confirm non-pressure etiology and document the depth of ulcer penetration into muscle 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. Muscle involvement without necrosis indicates the ulcer extends to muscle tissue that remains viable, representing a serious wound that requires close monitoring to prevent progression to tissue death.

Documentation Requirements

✓Ulcer site documented as right ankle with clear laterality (right 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 muscle tissue is exposed or involved but remains viable
✓Explicit statement that no necrosis of muscle is present
✓Wound bed description distinguishing viable muscle from necrotic tissue

Commonly Confused Codes

L97.313 — necrosis of muscle; muscle tissue death is present L97.312 — fat layer exposed; extends through dermis to subcutaneous fat L89.5- — 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 └L97.3Non-pressure chronic ulcer of ankle └L97.31Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right ankle └L97.315Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right ankle with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis

└L97.315Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right ankle with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis