If the provider states in his or her documentation the patient has a diabetic ulcer, right Hallux, Wagner Grade 2 can the coder use the Wagner grade scale to code the severity of ulcer? Which in this particular case would be ICD10 code L97.512 Non Pressure Chronic Ulcer of other part of the right foot with fat layer exposed. Or does he or she also have to state the stage of the ulcer in order to use code to L97.512?
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Wiki Wagner Grade
- Thread starter PennyK
- Start date
podcoder70
Expert
Staging is for pressure ulcers, not diabetic ulcers.
podcoder70
Expert
I see I didn't finish this reply. The Wagner grade can be used to code, however, it is best for the document to identify the depth of the wound. Documented depth of debridement is required.