ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L02.4 - Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of limb (original) (raw)
ICD List 2025-2026 Edition
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- 2026 ICD-10-CM Code L02.4
Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of limb
ICD-10-CM Code:
L02.4
ICD-10 Code for:
Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of limb
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:
L02.4 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity from the list below for a diagnosis of cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of limb. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2026 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.
Non-specific codes like L02.4 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following billable codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of limb:
L02.41 for Cutaneous abscess of limb
Use L02.411 for Cutaneous abscess of right axilla
Use L02.412 for Cutaneous abscess of left axilla
Use L02.413 for Cutaneous abscess of right upper limb
Use L02.414 for Cutaneous abscess of left upper limb
Use L02.415 for Cutaneous abscess of right lower limb
Use L02.416 for Cutaneous abscess of left lower limb
Use L02.419 for Cutaneous abscess of limb, unspecified
L02.42 for Furuncle of limb
Use L02.421 for Furuncle of right axilla
Use L02.422 for Furuncle of left axilla
Use L02.423 for Furuncle of right upper limb
Use L02.424 for Furuncle of left upper limb
Use L02.425 for Furuncle of right lower limb
Use L02.426 for Furuncle of left lower limb
Use L02.429 for Furuncle of limb, unspecified
L02.43 for Carbuncle of limb
Use L02.431 for Carbuncle of right axilla
Use L02.432 for Carbuncle of left axilla
Use L02.433 for Carbuncle of right upper limb
Use L02.434 for Carbuncle of left upper limb
Use L02.435 for Carbuncle of right lower limb
Use L02.436 for Carbuncle of left lower limb
Use L02.439 for Carbuncle of limb, unspecified
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- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
L00–L99
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. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.
Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.
Skin Infections
What are skin infections?
Your skin is your body's largest organ. It has many different functions, including covering and protecting your body. It helps keep germs out. But sometimes the germs can cause a skin infection. It often happens when the germs enter your body through a break, cut, or wound on your skin. Other skin infections can happen in places where the skin rubs together, especially if the area is moist. Infections can also happen when you have a poor blood supply to an area of your body or if your immune system is weakened because of another disease or a medical treatment.
Some skin infections cover a small area on the top of your skin. Other infections can go deep into your skin or spread to a larger area.
What causes skin infections?
Skin infections are caused by different kinds of germs. For example,:
- Bacteria cause cellulitis, impetigo, and staphylococcal (staph) infections
- Viruses cause shingles, warts, and herpes simplex
- Fungi cause athlete's foot and yeast infections
- Parasites cause body lice, head lice, and scabies
Who is more likely to get a skin infection?
You are more likely to get a skin infection if you:
- Have poor circulation
- Have diabetes
- Are older
- Have an immune system disease, such as HIV
- Have a weakened immune system because of chemotherapy or other medicines that suppress your immune system
- Have to stay in one position for a long time, such as if you are sick and have to stay in bed for a long time or you are paralyzed
- Are malnourished
- Have excessive skinfolds, which can happen if you have obesity
What are the symptoms of skin infections?
The symptoms depend on the type of infection. Some symptoms that are common to many skin infections include rashes, swelling, redness, pain, pus, and itching.
How are skin infections diagnosed?
To diagnose a skin infection, your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. You may have lab tests, such as a skin culture. This is a test to identify what type of infection you have, using a sample from your skin. Your provider may take the sample by swabbing or scraping your skin or removing a small piece of skin (biopsy). Sometimes providers use other tests, such as blood tests.
How are skin infections treated?
The treatment depends on the type of infection and how serious it is. Some infections will go away on their own. When you do need treatment, it may include a cream or lotion to put on the skin. Other possible treatments include medicines and a procedure to drain pus.
Staphylococcal Infections
What are Staphylococcal (staph) infections?
Staphylococcus (staph) is a group of bacteria. There are more than 30 types. A type called Staphylococcus aureus causes most infections.
Staph bacteria can cause many different types of infections, including:
- Skin infections, which are the most common types of staph infections.
- Bacteremia, an infection of the bloodstream. This can lead to sepsis, a very serious immune response to infection.
- Bone infections.
- Endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.
- Food poisoning.
- Pneumonia.
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a life-threatening condition caused by toxins from certain types of bacteria.
What causes staph infections?
Some people carry staph bacteria on their skin or in their noses, but they do not get an infection. But if they get a cut or wound, the bacteria can enter the body and cause an infection.
Staph bacteria can spread from person to person. They can also spread on objects, such as towels, clothing, door handles, athletic equipment, and remotes. If you have staph and do not handle food properly when you are preparing it, you can also spread staph to others.
Who is more likely to get a staph infection?
Anyone can develop a staph infection, but certain people are more likely to get one, including those who:
- Have a chronic condition such as diabetes, cancer, vascular disease, eczema, and lung disease
- Have a weakened immune system, such as from HIV, medicines to prevent organ rejection, or chemotherapy
- Had surgery
- Are in the hospital
- Use a catheter, breathing tube, or feeding tube
- Have an implanted device, such as a pacemaker or artificial joint or heart valve
- Have burns, especially if they are deep or cover a large area of the body
- Are on dialysis
- Inject illegal drugs
- Do contact sports, since you may have skin-to-skin contact with others or share equipment
What are the symptoms of staph infections?
The symptoms of a staph infection depend on the type of infection:
- Skin infections can look like pimples or boils. They may be red, swollen, and painful. Sometimes there is pus or other drainage. They can turn into impetigo, which turns into a crust on the skin, or cellulitis, a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot.
- Bone infections can cause pain, swelling, warmth, and redness in the infected area. You may also have chills and a fever.
- Endocarditis causes some flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, and fatigue. It also causes symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fluid buildup in your arms or legs.
- Food poisoning typically causes nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. If you lose too many fluids, you may also become dehydrated.
- Pneumonia symptoms include a high fever, chills, and cough that doesn't get better. You may also have chest pain and shortness of breath.
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) causes high fever, sudden low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. You may have a sunburn-like rash somewhere on your body. TSS can lead to organ failure.
How are staph infections diagnosed?
Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. Often, providers can tell if you have a staph skin infection by looking at it. To check for other types of staph infections, providers may do a culture, with a skin scraping, tissue sample, stool sample, or throat or nasal swabs. There may be other tests, such as imaging tests, depending on the type of infection.
What are the treatments for staph infections?
Treatment for staph infections is antibiotics. Depending on the type of infection, the antibiotics might be a cream, ointment, medicines (to swallow), or intravenous (IV) medicine. If you have an infected wound, your provider might drain it. Sometimes you may need surgery for bone infections.
Some staph infections, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), are resistant to many antibiotics. There are still certain antibiotics that can treat these infections.
Can staph infections be prevented?
Certain steps can help to prevent staph infections:
- Use good hygiene, including washing your hands often.
- Don't share towels, sheets, or clothing with someone who has a staph infection.
- It's best not to share athletic equipment. If you do need to share, make sure that it is properly cleaned and dried before you use it.
- Practice food safety, including not preparing food for others when you have a staph infection.
- If you have a cut or wound, keep it covered.
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FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.