L89.90 Pressure ulcer of unspecified site, unspecified stage

ICD-10-CM L89.90: Pressure ulcer of unspecified site, unspecified stage

ICD-10-CM code L89.90 designates a pressure ulcer of an unspecified site and an unspecified stage. A pressure ulcer is a localized skin and soft tissue injury resulting from prolonged pressure and shear. While staging systems exist to classify the depth and severity of these injuries, this code is used when the specific anatomical location and the stage are not specified in the documentation. 1 5 6

Plain-language overview

A pressure ulcer, also known as a decubitus ulcer or pressure injury, is a localized injury to skin and soft tissue that results from prolonged pressure and shear, often occurring over a bony prominence or under a medical device. 1

What this code represents

The ICD-10-CM code L89.90 represents a diagnosis of a pressure ulcer when both the anatomical site and the specific stage of the injury are unspecified. The semantic type for this concept is a disease or syndrome. 5

Coding details

Code L89.90 is part of a broader category of pressure ulcers of unspecified sites that includes distinct codes for specific stages, ranging from stage 1 through stage 4, as well as unstageable ulcers and pressure-induced deep tissue damage. 6

The L89.90 code for an unspecified stage is distinct from the L89.95 code, which is designated for a pressure ulcer of an unspecified site that is explicitly classified as unstageable. 6

Documentation considerations

Clinical assessment of a pressure ulcer includes documenting its location, size, depth, exudate, pain, wound bed tissue, and surrounding skin characteristics. Identifying the specific stage based on the observed tissue depth aids in determining ulcer management. 2

In certain healthcare settings like home care and nursing homes, nurses must stage pressure ulcers because this staging information is linked to the reimbursement of medical expenses. 2

What the sources add

Clinical literature from the National Center for Biotechnology Information describes pressure ulcers as injuries from prolonged pressure and shear, while the National Cancer Institute's EVS Explore platform provides the formal ICD-10-CM code definition and semantic type for L89.90. 1 5

The Unbound Medicine source outlines the complete hierarchical code tree for pressure ulcers of unspecified sites, whereas the National Cancer Institute source specifically confirms the preferred name and disease classification for the L89.90 code. 5 6

Sources

1. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
3. Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
4. Pressure Ulcer Staging Elizabeth A. Ayello — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
5. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
6. ICD-10-CM 2024 | L89.95 - Pressure ulcer of unspecified site, unstageable — unboundmedicine.com; accessed 2026-07-25.