Devices › Suture, nonabsorbable, silk
Device brand name · Suture nonabsorbable silk
Silk Suture Unknown Product: medical device reports filed with FDA
548 reports name it, 2017–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon. Product code GAP.
- 548
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 63 a year
- 32
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 86 in the 12 months before
- 49.1%
- classified as malfunction
- 80.1% across the product code
- 1.3%
- classified as death, as reported
- 7 reports · not verified by FDA
548 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Silk Suture Unknown Product" (suture nonabsorbable silk); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon; received from November 2017 to June 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.
32 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 63% from 86 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 (49.6%), malfunction (49.1%) and death (1.3%); across all suture, nonabsorbable, silk reports (product code GAP) death is recorded in 0.2% and malfunction in 80.1%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.
The device problems coded most often are break (47.3%), material separation (2.4%) and insufficient device problem information (1.5%). The patient problems coded most often are inflammation, not applicable and erythema. 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
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
Event type and report source
Event type, as classified on the report
Who filed the report
Grey bar: all 4,019 reports carrying product code GAP. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.
Device problems coded
| Device problem (FDA code) | Reports | Share | Share across product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakthe device broke | 259 | 47.3% | 53.1% |
| Material separation | 13 | 2.4% | 9.9% |
| Insufficient device problem information | 8 | 1.5% | 0.4% |
| Delivered as unsterile product | 5 | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Device contaminated during manufacture or shipping | 5 | 0.9% | 2.4% |
| Contamination | 2 | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Defective component | 2 | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Material discolored | 2 | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Patient-device incompatibilitythe device did not suit the patient | 2 | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Compatibility problem | 1 | 0.2% | 0% |
| Component misassembled | 1 | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Fracturea broken bone | 1 | 0.2% | 0% |
| Improper or incorrect procedure or method | 1 | 0.2% | 0% |
| Material fragmentation | 1 | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Material frayed | 1 | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Material integrity problema problem with the device material | 1 | 0.2% | 0.7% |
| Material twisted/bent | 1 | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed | 1 | 0.2% | 0% |
| Migration or expulsion of device | 1 | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Packaging problem | 1 | 0.2% | 0.6% |
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) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammationinflammation | 71 | 13% |
| Not applicable | 67 | 12.2% |
| Erythemaskin redness | 54 | 9.9% |
| Painpain, site not specified | 44 | 8% |
| Wound dehiscencea wound reopened | 38 | 6.9% |
| Swelling/ edema | 31 | 5.7% |
| Fluid discharge | 29 | 5.3% |
| Post operative wound infection | 28 | 5.1% |
| Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding | 27 | 4.9% |
| Blood loss | 13 | 2.4% |
| Skin irritationirritated skin | 13 | 2.4% |
| Impaired healingslow healing | 12 | 2.2% |
| Necrosisdeath of tissue | 12 | 2.2% |
| Itching sensation | 11 | 2% |
| Fistula | 10 | 1.8% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | Silk Suture Unknown Product | Product code GAP | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 548 | 4,019 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 13.6% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 13 | 2 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 49.6% | 19.5% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 49.1% | 80.1% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 100% | 98.3% | 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 GAP
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silk Brd Blk 15x60cm M2 5 | 363 | 44 | 0% |
| Sofsilk | 365 | 49 | 0% |
| Silk Brd Blk 15x60cm M2 0 | 248 | 29 | 0% |
| Silk Suture | 159 | 35 | 0% |
| Non Absorbable Surgical Suture | 337 | 39 | 0% |
| ETHILON Nylon Suture | 403 | 9 | 0.2% |
| Ethicon | 1,100 | 164 | 2.3% |
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 Silk Suture Unknown Product reports
How many FDA reports name Silk Suture Unknown Product?
548 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 32 in the latest 12 months.
What kinds of events are reported?
injury (49.6%), malfunction (49.1%) and death (1.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
break (47.3%), material separation (2.4%), insufficient device problem information (1.5%), delivered as unsterile product (0.9%) and device contaminated during manufacture or shipping (0.9%). 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 Silk 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.