Pressure ulcer of left ankle, stage 3

This code signifies a pressure injury located on the left ankle that has progressed to stage 3. At this stage, there is full-thickness skin loss involving damage or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue, which may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia. Adipose tissue may be visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a pressure ulcer on the patient's left ankle with characteristics consistent with a stage 3 injury. This typically involves a wound assessment describing full-thickness skin loss, visible subcutaneous fat, and no exposed deeper structures.

• Always confirm the laterality (left ankle) and the specific stage (stage 3) from the clinical documentation.
• Do not use this code if the ulcer involves exposed bone, tendon, or muscle; a stage 4 code would be more appropriate.
• Code any associated complications, such as infection, separately.