Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of head

This code signifies a severe form of pressure injury affecting the head, characterized by persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon, or purple discoloration, or an epidermal separation revealing a dark wound bed or blood-filled blister. It indicates damage to the underlying soft tissue from pressure and/or shear, where the full extent of tissue injury is not visible at the surface.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states "pressure-induced deep tissue damage" or "suspected deep tissue injury" located on the head. This diagnosis is typically made when the skin is intact but discolored, or a blood-filled blister is present, indicating damage to deeper tissues from prolonged pressure. Documentation should clearly specify the anatomical location as the head.

• Do not code this as a pressure ulcer/injury stage if the skin is intact and the full extent of damage is unknown; this is a distinct diagnosis.
• Ensure the documentation specifies "head" as the anatomical site; avoid using this code for other body regions.
• This code is often assigned upon initial assessment when deep tissue damage is suspected, even if it later evolves into an unstageable pressure injury.