Find comprehensive information on sacral ulcer diagnosis, including clinical documentation, healthcare guidelines, and medical coding. Learn about pressure ulcer staging, wound care, ICD-10 codes for sacral pressure ulcers, and treatment options. This resource offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals, clinicians, and medical coders seeking accurate and up-to-date information on sacral ulcers.
Also known as
Pressure ulcer
Decubitus ulcer stages I-IV, unspecified stage
Sacral pressure ulcer
Pressure ulcer specifically located on the sacrum
Contact with and suspected exposure to...
May be used if ulcer is due to external pressure like bed
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the sacral ulcer a pressure ulcer?
Yes
Stage of pressure ulcer?
No
Is it due to arterial insufficiency?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Sacral Pressure Ulcer |
Coccygeal Pressure Ulcer |
Buttock Pressure Ulcer |
Coding sacral ulcers without specifying the stage (I-IV, unstageable, deep tissue injury) leads to inaccurate DRG assignment and reimbursement.
Misclassifying other etiologies (e.g., arterial, venous, neuropathic) as pressure ulcers impacts quality metrics and reimbursement.
Insufficient documentation of size, depth, location, and characteristics hinders accurate coding and may trigger audits.
Patient presents with a sacral ulcer, also documented as a pressure ulcer, pressure sore, decubitus ulcer, or bedsore, located on the sacrum. Assessment reveals a stage [Insert Stage I-IV, unstageable, or deep tissue pressure injury] wound characterized by [Describe wound characteristics: size in centimeters length x width x depth, tissue type present e.g., granulation, slough, eschar, necrotic tissue, bone involvement, undermining, tunneling, exudate type and amount, surrounding skin condition e.g., erythema, induration, maceration, warmth]. The patient reports [Document patient's subjective complaints related to the ulcer: pain level and quality, itching, burning, odor]. Pain is managed with [Document pain management plan, including medications, dressings, and non-pharmacological interventions]. Surrounding skin is intact except as noted. The etiology is suspected to be related to [Document contributing factors, e.g., immobility, pressure, shear, friction, moisture, malnutrition, impaired circulation, medical comorbidities such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, peripheral vascular disease]. The patient's current Braden Scale score is [Insert score] indicating a [Insert risk level: low, moderate, high] risk for pressure injury development. Treatment plan includes [Document treatment plan: wound care regimen with specific dressing type and frequency, pressure redistribution measures e.g., specialized mattress, cushions, turning schedule, nutritional support, debridement if necessary, offloading techniques, consultation with wound care specialist, other relevant interventions]. Patient education provided on pressure ulcer prevention strategies including proper skin hygiene, regular repositioning, and importance of nutrition. Follow-up scheduled for [Date/time] to reassess wound healing progress and adjust treatment plan as needed. ICD-10 code L89. CPT codes for wound care procedures will be documented separately based on services rendered.