Reported Reactions

Devices › Suture, absorbable, synthetic, polyglycolic acid

Device brand name · Suture absorbable synthetic

Absorbable Surgical Suture Usp: medical device reports filed with FDA

361 reports name it, 2018–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon. Product code GAM.

361
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 45 a year
27
reports, 12 months to August 2026
72 in the 12 months before
91.1%
classified as malfunction
76.5% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 361 reports that name the brand "Absorbable Surgical Suture Usp" (suture absorbable synthetic), received between July 2018 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

27 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 62% from 72 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are malfunction (91.1%) and injury (8.9%); across all suture, absorbable, synthetic, polyglycolic acid reports (product code GAM) death is recorded in 0.2% and malfunction in 76.5%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are break (67.9%), material separation (17.5%) and tear, rip or hole in device packaging (6.1%). The patient problems coded most often are abscess, inflammation and purulent discharge. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

0815Sep 2021: 15Oct 2021: 6Nov 2021: 13Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 1Mar 2022: 3Apr 2022: 2May 2022: 10Jun 2022: 6Jul 2022: 15Aug 2022: 2Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 1Nov 2022: 3Dec 2022: 22023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 2Mar 2023: 5Apr 2023: 1May 2023: 3Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 1Aug 2023: 2Sep 2023: 8Oct 2023: 9Nov 2023: 4Dec 2023: 72024Jan 2024: 3Feb 2024: 9Mar 2024: 8Apr 2024: 2May 2024: 6Jun 2024: 2Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 10Sep 2024: 11Oct 2024: 6Nov 2024: 6Dec 2024: 42025Jan 2025: 3Feb 2025: 8Mar 2025: 1Apr 2025: 5May 2025: 9Jun 2025: 1Jul 2025: 15Aug 2025: 3Sep 2025: 4Oct 2025: 5Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 22026Jan 2026: 6Feb 2026: 4Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 3May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 1

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

034672018: 620182019: 3720192020: 3920202021: 5320212022: 4520222023: 4220232024: 6720242025: 5620252026: 162026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury8.9%32
Malfunction91.1%329
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%361
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 56,946 reports carrying product code GAM. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Breakthe device broke24567.9%36.3%
Material separation6317.5%18.8%
Tear, rip or hole in device packaging226.1%0.3%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material185%1.6%
Material frayed51.4%1.2%
Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label41.1%0.6%
Component missing20.6%0.6%
Insufficient device problem information20.6%1.1%
Defective component10.3%0.4%
Material discolored10.3%0.1%
Material twisted/bent10.3%0.5%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Abscessa collection of pus113%
Inflammationinflammation113%
Purulent discharge113%
Necrosisdeath of tissue61.7%
Wound dehiscencea wound reopened61.7%
Post operative wound infection41.1%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding20.6%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureAbsorbable Surgical Suture UspProduct code GAMAll MAUDE reports
Reports36156,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—0.6%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports029
Classified as injury8.9%23%36.2%
Classified as malfunction91.1%76.5%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%98%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code GAM

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Polysorb5,4101,8360%
V-Loc 1803,4476780%
Vicryl Polyglactin 910 Suture Unknown Product2,3732101.2%
Coated VICRYL (polyglactin 910) Suture1,930200.5%
Maxon1,8093090%
Biosyn1,6812610%
V-Loc 901,3782260%
VICRYL Polyglactin 910 Suture1,262740.1%
Vcl+ Ud 27in 5-0 S/A Tf1,1251580.1%
Coated VICRYL9788510%
Vicryl Plus Antibacterial Polyglactin 910 Suture85200.1%
Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial Polyglactin 91072400%
Vcl+ Ud 18in 5-0 S/A P-3 Prm Mp5181260%
Unknown VLoc Product413393.6%
Caprosyn399940%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about Absorbable Surgical Suture Usp reports

How many FDA reports name Absorbable Surgical Suture Usp?

361 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 27 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (91.1%) and injury (8.9%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (67.9%), material separation (17.5%), tear, rip or hole in device packaging (6.1%), material integrity problem (5%) and material frayed (1.4%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Absorbable Surgical Suture Usp was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.