What is the ICD-10 code for a left foot ulcer?

The ICD-10 code for a non-pressure chronic ulcer of the left foot with muscle necrosis is L97.523. If related to diabetes, code E11.621 should be used first.

How do you code a diabetic left foot ulcer?

For a diabetic left foot ulcer, first use E11.621 for diabetes with foot ulcer, followed by L97.52- for the ulcer specifics.

ICD-10 Coding for Left Foot Ulcer(L97.523, E11.6, E11.62)

Save

Learn about ICD-10 coding for left foot ulcers, including code ranges, documentation requirements, and common pitfalls. Ensure accurate coding and billing.

Also known as:

Left Foot UlcerationNon-pressure Ulcer of Left Foot

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Left Foot Ulcer

L00-L99Primary Range

Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

→

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
L97.523	Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left foot with necrosis of muscle	Use when the ulcer involves necrosis of muscle tissue on the left foot.	MRI or CT showing muscle involvement Clinical documentation of ulcer depth
E11.621	Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer	Use when the ulcer is a complication of diabetes.	HbA1c >6.5% Clinical documentation linking ulcer to diabetes

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with necrosis of muscle

L97.523Billable

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left foot with necrosis of boneL97.524

Use when bone necrosis is present, confirmed by imaging.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcerE11.622

Use for ulcers not on the foot.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Left Foot Ulcer.

Omitting laterality in documentation

Impact

Clinical: Impacts treatment planning., Regulatory: Non-compliance with ICD-10 guidelines., Financial: Potential claim denials.

Mitigation

Always specify left or right in documentation., Use templates that prompt for laterality.

Using unspecified severity codes

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to lower reimbursement rates., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Reduces accuracy of clinical data.

Mitigation

Document and code the specific depth of necrosis.

Diabetes linkage documentation

Impact

Failure to document the link between diabetes and the ulcer.

Mitigation

Ensure all ulcers are documented with their etiology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with L97.523.

Primary Code

L97.523

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with necrosis of muscle

Quick Navigation

ICD-10 codes8

Coding risks3

FAQs2

ICD-10 Coding for Left Foot Ulcer(L97.523, E11.6, E11.62)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for a left foot ulcer?

How do you code a diabetic left foot ulcer?

Related condition guides