Reported Reactions

Devices › Suture, absorbable, synthetic, polyglycolic acid

Device brand name · Suture absorbable synthetic

Monocryl: medical device reports filed with FDA

181 reports name it, 2013–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon. Product code GAM.

181
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 14 a year
151
reports, 12 months to August 2026
1 in the 12 months before
82.3%
classified as malfunction
76.5% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

181 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Monocryl" (suture absorbable synthetic); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon; received from July 2013 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

151 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 15000% from 1 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 (82.3%) and injury (17.7%); 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 material separation (32.6%), break (31.5%) and material frayed (4.4%). The patient problems coded most often are erythema, hypersensitivity/allergic reaction and local reaction. 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

02244Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 0Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 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: 1Feb 2024: 1Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 0Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 1Dec 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: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 21Apr 2026: 23May 2026: 44Jun 2026: 23Jul 2026: 19Aug 2026: 20

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

0761512013: 320132014: 320142015: 320152017: 1120172019: 720192024: 320242026: 1512026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury17.7%32
Malfunction82.3%149
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report86.7%157
Voluntary report2.8%5
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given10.5%19

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
Material separation5932.6%18.8%
Breakthe device broke5731.5%36.3%
Material frayed84.4%1.2%
Device contaminated during manufacture or shipping63.3%0.4%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material52.8%1.6%
Material twisted/bent21.1%0.5%
Positioning failure21.1%0.3%
Product quality problem21.1%0.5%
Delivered as unsterile product10.6%0.2%
Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label10.6%0.6%
Dull, blunt10.6%0.3%

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
Erythemaskin redness2011%
Hypersensitivity/allergic reaction2011%
Local reaction2011%
Wound dehiscencea wound reopened73.9%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient31.7%
Abscessa collection of pus21.1%
Pocket erosion10.6%

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

In context

MeasureMonocrylProduct code GAMAll MAUDE reports
Reports18156,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—0.3%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports029
Classified as injury17.7%23%36.2%
Classified as malfunction82.3%76.5%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer86.7%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 Monocryl reports

How many FDA reports name Monocryl?

181 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 151 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (82.3%) and injury (17.7%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

material separation (32.6%), break (31.5%), material frayed (4.4%), device contaminated during manufacture or shipping (3.3%) and material integrity problem (2.8%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (86.7%) and voluntary reports (2.8%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Monocryl 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.