L02.439Carbuncle of limb, unspecified

L02.439 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for carbuncle of limb, unspecified. It belongs to category L02 (cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle), block L00-L08 (infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue) and chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within L02.43, choose L02.439 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right axilla (L02.431), left axilla (L02.432), right upper limb (L02.433), left upper limb (L02.434), right lower limb (L02.435) and left lower limb (L02.436).

Use an additional code to identify organism (B95-B96).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 602 (Cellulitis with MCC, relative weight 1.4273) and DRG 603 (Cellulitis without MCC, relative weight 0.8635), in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 680.3 (carbuncle and furuncle of upper arm and forearm) and 680.6 (carbuncle and furuncle of leg, except foot).