Carbuncle of buttock

This code signifies a carbuncle, which is a severe pyogenic infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, specifically located on the buttock. It involves a cluster of interconnected boils, forming a deep, painful abscess that typically drains pus through multiple openings.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of a carbuncle affecting the buttock region. This diagnosis is often supported by physical examination findings of a painful, inflamed, indurated lesion with multiple draining sinuses on the gluteal area.

• Differentiate from a single furuncle (boil) of the buttock; a carbuncle is a more extensive infection.
• Do not use for abscesses of the buttock that are not explicitly documented as carbuncles.
• Consider an additional code for the causative organism (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) if identified and documented.