L97.9
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg
L97.9 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg. 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 L97.90 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg, L97.91 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg and L97.92 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg. 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.
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.
Code first
If the underlying condition listed here is present and known, sequence it first.
- 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.
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.
- 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