Wiki Coding a diabetic ulcer

[donnagullikson]

Patient has a plantar foot Wagner Grade 3 Diabetic ulcer. I know I code E11.621 first and then list the non-pressure ulcer L97.____ but what is a wagner grade 3 diabetic ulcer equivalent to: 1) bone necrosis 2) exposed fat layer 3) muscle necrosis or 4) skin breakdown only?

These confuse me because I thought Wagner Grade 3 were used for pressure ulcers.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Kurtzj]

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Since a grade 2 is classified as a deep ulcer, penetrating down to ligament and muscle, but no bone is showing and Grade 3 is a deep ulcer with cellulitis or abscess formation.

I would code it as a 3 necrosis of muscle.

Hope this helps!

Jen