Reported Reactions

Devices › Suture, nonabsorbable, synthetic, polyamide

Device brand name · Suture nonabsorbable

Ethilon Nylon Suture Unknown Product: medical device reports filed with FDA

191 reports name it, 2017–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon. Product code GAR.

191
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 22 a year
6
reports, 12 months to August 2026
34 in the 12 months before
5.8%
classified as malfunction
84.9% across the product code
0.5%
classified as death, as reported
1 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 191 reports that name the brand "Ethilon Nylon Suture Unknown Product" (suture nonabsorbable), received between November 2017 and March 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

6 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 82% from 34 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 injury (93.7%), malfunction (5.8%) and death (0.5%); across all suture, nonabsorbable, synthetic, polyamide reports (product code GAR) death is recorded in 0% and malfunction in 84.9%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are break (3.1%), material separation (1%) and delivered as unsterile product (0.5%). The patient problems coded most often are thrombosis/thrombus, hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding and necrosis. 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

02243Sep 2021: 2Oct 2021: 2Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 17May 2022: 43Jun 2022: 4Jul 2022: 2Aug 2022: 2Sep 2022: 1Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 3Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 1Apr 2023: 1May 2023: 0Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 1Aug 2023: 0Sep 2023: 1Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 182024Jan 2024: 2Feb 2024: 2Mar 2024: 4Apr 2024: 5May 2024: 1Jun 2024: 1Jul 2024: 1Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 0Oct 2024: 2Nov 2024: 0Dec 2024: 12025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 8May 2025: 10Jun 2025: 7Jul 2025: 5Aug 2025: 1Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 1Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 22026Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 2Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0

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

035692017: 1120172018: 820182019: 720192020: 920202021: 620212022: 6920222023: 2520232024: 1920242025: 3420252026: 32026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.5%1
Injury93.7%179
Malfunction5.8%11
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99.5%190
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0.5%1

Grey bar: all 6,142 reports carrying product code GAR. 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 broke63.1%45.5%
Material separation21%21.3%
Delivered as unsterile product10.5%0.6%
Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label10.5%1.1%
Dull, blunt10.5%3%

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
Thrombosis/thrombus3719.4%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding2513.1%
Necrosisdeath of tissue199.9%
Hematomaa collection of blood under the skin or in tissue168.4%
Wound dehiscencea wound reopened168.4%
Painpain, site not specified157.9%
Swelling/ edema126.3%
Impaired healingslow healing94.7%
Post operative wound infection94.7%
Fluid discharge73.7%
Seromaa collection of fluid under the skin73.7%
Scar tissue63.1%
Abscessa collection of pus31.6%
Erythemaskin redness31.6%
Hyphema31.6%

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

In context

MeasureEthilon Nylon Suture Unknown ProductProduct code GARAll MAUDE reports
Reports1916,14226,136,888
Share of that pool—3.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports509
Classified as injury93.7%14.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction5.8%84.9%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99.5%98.8%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 GAR

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Monosof410890%
ETHILON Nylon Suture40390.2%
Alcon Closure System (ACS), Nylon3231520%
Ethilon1861830%
Non Absorbable Surgical Suture337390%
McKesson446740%
Unknown Suture Product448280.9%
ETHIBOND Extra & Excel Polyester Suture317340%
Surgicel Absorbable Hemostat28902.1%

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 Ethilon Nylon Suture Unknown Product reports

How many FDA reports name Ethilon Nylon Suture Unknown Product?

191 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 6 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (93.7%), malfunction (5.8%) and death (0.5%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (3.1%), material separation (1%), delivered as unsterile product (0.5%), device markings/labelling problem (0.5%) and dull, blunt (0.5%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99.5%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Ethilon Nylon Suture Unknown Product 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.