L02.519Cutaneous abscess of unspecified hand

L02.519 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cutaneous abscess of unspecified hand. 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 L02.51, choose L02.519 (unspecified hand) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right hand (L02.511) and left hand (L02.512).

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

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 573 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC, relative weight 6.3575), DRG 574 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC, relative weight 3.5674), DRG 575 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC, relative weight 1.8797), DRG 602 (Cellulitis with MCC, relative weight 1.4273), DRG 603 (Cellulitis without MCC, relative weight 0.8635), DRG 791 (Prematurity with Major Problems, relative weight 4.1075) and 1 more, in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast) and MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period), 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 is an unspecified code for which a more specific option (often laterality) exists, and the Medicare Code Editor flags it for review on inpatient claims.

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 681.00 (cellulitis and abscess of finger, unspecified) and 682.4 (cellulitis and abscess of hand, except fingers and thumb).