Reported Reactions

Devices › Screw, fixation, bone

Device brand name · Locking screw

Locking Screw: medical device reports filed with FDA

241 reports name it, 2006–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Synthes USA. Product code HWC.

241
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 12 a year
3
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
17.8%
classified as malfunction
30.8% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 241 reports that name the brand "Locking Screw" (locking screw), received between October 2006 and July 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Synthes USA. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

3 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, with none 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 (81.7%) and malfunction (17.8%); across all screw, fixation, bone reports (product code HWC) death is recorded in 0.1% and malfunction in 30.8%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are break (25.7%), insufficient device problem information (19.9%) and device slipped (10.4%). The patient problems coded most often are nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture, pain and bone fracture(s). 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

012Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 2Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 1Aug 2022: 0Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 12023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 0Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 0Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 0Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 0Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 0Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 0Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 2Jul 2026: 1Aug 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

0821632006: 1020062007: 132008: 520082010: 32011: 1020112012: 1632013: 2020132016: 62021: 420212022: 42026: 32026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury81.7%197
Malfunction17.8%43
Other0%0
Not given0.4%1

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report98.8%238
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given1.2%3

Grey bar: all 58,946 reports carrying product code HWC. 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 broke6225.7%26.4%
Insufficient device problem information4819.9%4.3%
Device slipped2510.4%1.9%
Detachment of device component135.4%1.4%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly135.4%1.8%
Failure to adhere or bond125%0.6%
Device dislodged or dislocated72.9%1.8%
Extrusion72.9%0.1%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove31.2%1.4%
Fracturea broken bone31.2%4.2%
Component(s), broken20.8%0.4%
Cut in material20.8%0%
Improper or incorrect procedure or method20.8%0.4%
Aspiration issue10.4%0%
Bent10.4%0.5%
Component falling10.4%0.2%
Device issuea problem with the device10.4%0.3%
Device remains implanted10.4%0.6%
Device, or device fragments remain in patient10.4%0.9%
Device, removal of (non-implant)10.4%0.2%

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
Nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture6627.4%
Painpain, site not specified3715.4%
Bone fracture(s)83.3%
Impaired healingslow healing83.3%
Discomfortdiscomfort62.5%
Irritationirritation62.5%
Device embedded in tissue or plaque31.2%
Failure of implant20.8%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient20.8%
Arthralgiajoint pain10.4%
Erosion10.4%
Falla fall10.4%
Foreign body, removal of10.4%
Nerve damage10.4%
No patient involvement10.4%

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

In context

MeasureLocking ScrewProduct code HWCAll MAUDE reports
Reports24158,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—0.4%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury81.7%67.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction17.8%30.8%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer98.8%97.3%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 HWC

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
UNK - Screws: Trauma3,5762880%
UNK - Screws: Locking2,331980%
Unk - Screws Cortex889160%
Unknown Screw1,2221560%
Screw64700%
UNK - Screws: Nail Distal Locking444120.2%
Unknown Screws652231.7%
UNK - Screws: CMF4102800%
UNK - Screws: Locking: Trauma276340%
Unk - Screws 3 5 Mm Cortex220330%
Unk - Screws Nail Locking211190%
UNK - Screws: 2.7 mm VA Locking204220%
Unk - Screws Cannulated19090.5%
Unk - Screws25600%
Ni32,9391,5871.8%

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 Locking Screw reports

How many FDA reports name Locking Screw?

241 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 3 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (81.7%) and malfunction (17.8%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (25.7%), insufficient device problem information (19.9%), device slipped (10.4%), detachment of device component (5.4%) and device operates differently than expected (5.4%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (98.8%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Locking Screw 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.