Non-pressure chronic ulcer of chest limited to brkdwn skin

This code describes a chronic skin ulceration on the chest that is not caused by pressure. It indicates that the ulcer involves only the epidermal and dermal layers, without extending into subcutaneous tissue, muscle, or bone. This condition typically results from underlying vascular insufficiency, neuropathy, or other systemic diseases.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a chronic, non-pressure ulcer located on the chest, and specifies that the ulceration is limited to the skin layers (epidermis and dermis). This code is appropriate for ulcers that are persistent and do not show signs of healing within an expected timeframe. Supporting documentation should include the location, chronicity, and depth of the ulcer, explicitly ruling out pressure as the etiology.

• Ensure documentation specifies "non-pressure" and "chronic" to differentiate from acute or pressure-related ulcers.
• Verify the ulcer is strictly limited to the chest area and only involves skin breakdown; deeper tissue involvement requires a different code.
• Always code any underlying systemic condition (e.g., diabetes, peripheral vascular disease) as a primary or secondary diagnosis, as appropriate, to fully explain the ulcer's etiology.