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L89.133 vs L89.143

L89.133 (Pressure ulcer of right lower back, stage 3) compared with L89.143 (Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3), from the official CMS tabular data. L89.133 and L89.143 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

L89.133
Right
Pressure ulcer of right lower back, stage 3
L89.143
Left
Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. L89.133 and L89.143 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

L89.133Pressure ulcer of right lower back, stage 3L89.143Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationL00-L99 — Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissueL00-L99 — Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
DefinitionPressure ulcer of right lower back, stage 3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (L89.133).Pressure ulcer of left lower back, stage 3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (L89.143).
Includes
bed sore
decubitus ulcer
plaster ulcer
pressure area
bed sore
decubitus ulcer
plaster ulcer
pressure area
Code first
any associated gangrene (I96)
any associated gangrene (I96)

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources