L97.921

Billable

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg limited to breakdown of skin

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 383 — Diabetic Skin Ulcer and Severe Skin Conditions

0.517

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 chronic open sore on the left lower leg that is not caused by pressure, affecting only the outer layer of skin.

Coding Tips

•This code indicates the least severe stage with skin breakdown only; ensure documentation confirms no deeper tissue involvement
•Differentiate from pressure ulcers which use L89 codes

Clinical Significance

This non-pressure chronic ulcer on the unspecified part of left lower leg limited to skin breakdown represents the earliest stage of chronic ulceration, but still indicates impaired wound healing requiring clinical intervention. Chronic non-pressure ulcers are significant for risk adjustment because they indicate ongoing complex wound management needs, increased healthcare utilization, and often reflect underlying systemic conditions such as peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, or venous insufficiency. Accurate severity coding directly impacts care planning, specialist referral decisions, and appropriate resource allocation for wound care services.

Documentation Requirements

✓Confirmation that the ulcer is chronic (present for extended duration, not acute)
✓Documentation that the ulcer is NOT caused by pressure (non-pressure etiology)
✓Specific anatomical site of the ulcer on the unspecified part of left lower leg
✓Laterality documented as left side
✓Wound assessment confirming ulcer is limited to skin breakdown only (epidermis/dermis)
✓No exposure of subcutaneous fat, muscle, or bone
✓Underlying etiology or contributing conditions (e.g., venous insufficiency, arterial disease, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy)
✓Current wound measurements (length, width, depth) and wound bed description
✓Current treatment plan and wound care management

Commonly Confused Codes

L97.911 — Right lower leg equivalent; confirm laterality before coding L97.922 — fat layer exposed — deeper involvement than skin-only breakdown L97.929 — unspecified severity — use skin breakdown code when depth is documented L89.xxx — Pressure ulcer codes; L97 is specifically for NON-pressure chronic ulcers L97.5xx — Foot ulcer codes; verify whether the ulcer is on the leg or foot

Code Hierarchy

└L97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified └L97.9Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg └L97.92Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg └L97.921Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg limited to breakdown of skin

└L97.921Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg limited to breakdown of skin