Change to coding locations for Decubitus Ulcers

Until 2025-06 we coded Decubitus Ulcer Diagnoses by stage, but not location. This page documents the transition to coding them with some locations included.

Relevant Codes

Codes that were retired

Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage I (surface reddening) (L89.0) Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage II (to fascia, just under skin) (L89.1) Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage IV (involves muscle, tendon, or bone) (L89.3) Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, stage not indicated (L89.9)

Left to do

• add pages to wiki
  • Dx pages
  • Template:Decubitus Deep Tissue Damage Details
  • Template:Decubitus Stage 1 Details eg as per Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage I (surface reddening)
  • Template:Decubitus Stage 2 Details eg as per Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage II (to fascia, just under skin)
  • Template:Decubitus Stage 3 Details eg as per Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage III (deep, to but not including muscle)
  • Template:Decubitus Stage 4 Details eg as per Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, Stage IV (involves muscle, tendon, or bone)
  • Template:Decubitus Stage not indicated Details eg as per Decubitus (pressure) ulcer, stage not indicated
  • Template:Decubitus location sacral area
  • Template:Decubitus location heel
  • Template:Decubitus location other area

• retire old pages

• update pages
  • Template:ICD10 Guideline Decubitus Ulcer
  • Task Team Meeting - Rolling Agenda and Minutes 2025

• add codes to CCMDB.accdb
• update coding decubitus ulcers

Log

• 2025-06-25
  • added pages
    • Change to coding locations for Decubitus Ulcers - this page describing the change process
    • 2024 investigation of 2022 rise in the number of decubitus ulcers to contain some content that seemed like excess detail in Template:ICD10 Guideline Decubitus Ulcer
    • Template:Decubitus Deep Tissue Damage Details to contain the description provided at ICU Database Task Group Meeting – May 14, 2025 | Task 2025-05-14

• ICU Database Task Group Meeting – May 14, 2025 | Task 2025-05-14 - decided to
  • implement coding body location (sacral, heel or other) of ulcer by adding a digit to our existing coded
  • add a new code for L89.6 for "Pressure-induced deep tissue damage"
• 2024-12-04 Task Pt 4 - request to add locations on body of ulcers as part of testing an intervention
• 2024-03-20 Task Pt 1 - The 2024 investigation of 2022 rise in the number of decubitus ulcers raised the idea to include location in coding of decubitus ulcers