2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L02.212Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]
ICD-10-CM Codes›L00–L99›L00-L08›L02
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- Not Chronic
L02.212 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 573 through 575, 602 through 603, 791, 793. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 67 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as abscess of back. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Abscess of back
- Abscess of back, except buttock
- Abscess of flank
- Cellulitis and abscess of back
- Cellulitis and abscess of flank
- Cellulitis and abscess of trunk
- Cellulitis of flank
- Paraspinal abscess
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Abscess
An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms.
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Convert L02.212 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code History & ChangesHistory
Revised Code L02.212 was revised for FY 2026, effective October 1, 2025.
Replaced This code was replaced in the FY 2026 code set by:
- L02.217 - Cutaneous abscess of flank
- L02.217 - Cutaneous abscess of flank
- L02.217 - Cutaneous abscess of flank
Questions About L02.212Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]?
The ICD-10-CM code for cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank] is L02.212 (sometimes written as L02212). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Is L02.212 (Cutaneous abscess of trunk) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank] on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does L02.212 group to?
When cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank] is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 573, 574, 575, 602, 603, 791, 793, with relative weights from 0.8709 to 6.5514 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is L02.212 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists L02.212 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2026. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 67 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of L02.212?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank] converts to ICD-9-CM 682.2 (cellulitis of trunk). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
