ICD-10 Code L89.600 – Pressure ulcer of unspecified heel, unstageable (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L89.600 – Pressure ulcer of unspecified heel, unstageable
What it is
This code identifies a pressure ulcer on the heel when the side is not specified and the wound cannot be staged because the base is covered by slough or eschar. Use it for a heel pressure injury with unknown depth.
Clinical signs
You may see an open wound over the heel with necrotic tissue, slough, or eschar obscuring the wound base. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for laterality, depth, and whether the ulcer is truly unstageable.
When to use this code
Use L89.600 when the record documents a pressure ulcer of the heel but does not specify left or right. It also fits when the wound cannot be staged because the base is not visible. Confirm the provider’s documentation before assigning the code.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for a staged heel pressure ulcer, a pressure injury at another site, or a non-pressure wound. If laterality is documented, choose the more specific heel code instead.
Coding tip
Check the note for laterality and staging language, because “unstageable” and “unspecified heel” are both required here.