skin tears/skin ulcers

[Laurie L Swanke]

Can anyone expound on when to code a skin tear in M1 and when it should be coded only in M4?  If a resident receives a skin tear from a wheel chair pedal is that considered pressure?  What if a staff member transfers the resident and a skin tear is noted after the transfer--is that considered pressure?  If a resident has a skin tear upon awakening and the bed rail may have been the cause is that pressure?  I guess I do not get it.  The August update states... Skin tears/shears are coded in Item M4 unless pressure was a contributing factor. Thanks for your responses.