ICD-10 Code L97.205 – Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L97.205 – Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
What it is
This code identifies a chronic, non-pressure ulcer on the calf when the wound extends into muscle but there is no necrosis. Use it for a lower-leg ulcer that is not caused by pressure injury.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Typical records describe a persistent open wound on the calf with depth involving muscle, without dead tissue, and without pressure-related cause.
When to use this code
Use L97.205 when the provider documents a chronic ulcer of the calf, specifies muscle involvement, and states there is no necrosis. It is appropriate when the laterality is not documented or the site is recorded only as “unspecified calf.”
Check documentation if the note mentions bone, tendon, or fascia involvement, because a different code may apply. Also confirm that the ulcer is non-pressure and chronic, not an acute wound or pressure injury.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for pressure ulcers, traumatic wounds, or ulcers with necrosis. If the documentation identifies a more specific calf site or deeper tissue involvement, code that instead.
Coding tip
Verify the ulcer type, anatomic site, depth, and absence of necrosis before assigning L97.205.