L89.81
Pressure ulcer of head
L89.81 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for pressure ulcer of head. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are L89.810 Pressure ulcer of head, unstageable; L89.811 Pressure ulcer of head, stage 1; L89.812 Pressure ulcer of head, stage 2; L89.813 Pressure ulcer of head, stage 3 and 3 more. Its coding notes include a Code first instruction and 15 Excludes2 entries.
Guidelines tips
From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.
Each pressure ulcer gets its own L89 code for site and stage. A healing ulcer is coded to its documented stage, and deep tissue injury has its own stage code.
Pressure ulcer stage, ulcer depth, BMI, NIHSS and coma scale may be coded from other clinicians' documentation. The diagnosis itself must be documented by the patient's provider.
Unstageable and unspecified stage are different codes. A completely healed ulcer at admission is not coded. If the stage progresses during an inpatient stay, two codes are assigned for the same site.
Code first
If the underlying condition listed here is present and known, sequence it first.
Excludes2
Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.
Also from chapter/block level (10 notes)
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
- viral warts (B07.-)
Includes
Further defines or gives examples of the content of the category.
- bed sore
- decubitus ulcer
- plaster ulcer
- pressure area
- pressure sore
Inclusion terms
Conditions classified to this code.
- Pressure ulcer of face
Alphabetic Index terms
Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 14 entries
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), face
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), head
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 1 (healing) (pre-ulcer skin changes limited to persistent focal edema), face
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 1 (healing) (pre-ulcer skin changes limited to persistent focal edema), head
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 2 (healing) (abrasion, blister, partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis), face
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 2 (healing) (abrasion, blister, partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis), head
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 3 (healing) (full thickness skin loss involving damage or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue), face
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 3 (healing) (full thickness skin loss involving damage or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue), head
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 4 (healing) (necrosis of soft tissues through to underlying muscle, tendon, or bone), face
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), stage 4 (healing) (necrosis of soft tissues through to underlying muscle, tendon, or bone), head
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), unspecified stage, face
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative, pressure (pressure area), unspecified stage, head
More specific codes under L89.81 7
- L89.810Pressure ulcer of head, unstageableBillable
- L89.811Pressure ulcer of head, stage 1Billable
- L89.812Pressure ulcer of head, stage 2Billable
- L89.813Pressure ulcer of head, stage 3Billable
- L89.814Pressure ulcer of head, stage 4Billable
- L89.816Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of headBillable
- L89.819Pressure ulcer of head, unspecified stageBillable