L97

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified

FY2027Chapter 12: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue/L80–L99 Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

Code first
Excludes2

L97 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified. 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 L97.1 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of thigh, L97.2 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of calf, L97.3 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of ankle, L97.4 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of heel and midfoot and 3 more. Its coding notes include a Code first instruction and 13 Excludes2 entries.

Guidelines tips

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

A non-pressure ulcer described as healing is coded from the documentation. If the severity is not documented, the unspecified-severity code is assigned.

Guidelines I.C.12.b.2Non-pressure chronic ulcersRead the official text

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.

Guidelines I.B.14Documentation by clinicians other than the providerRead the official text

Code first

If the underlying condition listed here is present and known, sequence it first.

This code

any associated underlying condition, such as:
- any associated gangrene (I96)
- atherosclerosis of the lower extremities (I70.23-, I70.24-, I70.33-, I70.34-, I70.43-, I70.44-, I70.53-, I70.54-, I70.63-, I70.64-, I70.73-, I70.74-)
- chronic venous hypertension (I87.31-, I87.33-)
- diabetic ulcers (E08.621, E08.622, E09.621, E09.622, E10.621, E10.622, E11.621, E11.622, E13.621, E13.622)
- postphlebitic syndrome (I87.01-, I87.03-)
- postthrombotic syndrome (I87.01-, I87.03-)
- varicose ulcer (I83.0-, I83.2-)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

This code

pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-)
skin infections (L00-L08)
specific infections classified to A00-B99

Also from chapter/block level (10 notes)

Inherited from Chapter 12 Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

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.

This code

chronic ulcer of skin of lower limb NOS
non-healing ulcer of skin
non-infected sinus of skin
trophic ulcer NOS
tropical ulcer NOS
ulcer of skin of lower limb NOS

More specific codes under L97 7