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Wounds change. On the other hand, you do a
stage 4 because the necxrotic tissue obscures your ability to accurately stage
it. If the necrosis is "thru" the entire ulcer, but you can still see the
wound bed (to determine the depth of the incursion), then, theoretically, it
could be a stage II. So: does the wound extend into muscle or bone?
If yes, then it's a stage 4. If no, it's not. If you can't tell, it's a
stge 4.
Corey
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 4:14
PM
Subject: skin ulcer
Question for the group, I have a patient that has an ulcer on left lower
leg and the MD has documented that it is a stage II, but it clearly has
necrotic tissue almost throughout the entire ulcer. Would I code it a
stage IV even though the doc says stage II?
Michelle
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Michelle Witges
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