Reported Reactions

Devices › Prosthesis, spinous process spacer/plate

Device brand name · Prosthesis spinous process spacer/plate

Superion Interspinous Spacer: medical device reports filed with FDA

242 reports name it, 2020–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation. Product code NQO.

242
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 38 a year
18
reports, 12 months to August 2026
15 in the 12 months before
7.4%
classified as malfunction
51.6% across the product code
0.4%
classified as death, as reported
1 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 242 reports that name the brand "Superion Interspinous Spacer" (prosthesis spinous process spacer/plate), received between February 2020 and July 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Boston Scientific Neuromodulation. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

18 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 20% from 15 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 (92.1%), malfunction (7.4%) and death (0.4%); across all prosthesis, spinous process spacer/plate reports (product code NQO) death is recorded in 0.2% and malfunction in 51.6%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are migration (20.7%), lack of effect (10.7%) and device dislodged or dislocated (7.4%). The patient problems coded most often are pain, inadequate pain relief and fall. 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

048Sep 2021: 8Oct 2021: 5Nov 2021: 7Dec 2021: 32022Jan 2022: 2Feb 2022: 3Mar 2022: 1Apr 2022: 5May 2022: 4Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 4Sep 2022: 3Oct 2022: 7Nov 2022: 4Dec 2022: 42023Jan 2023: 6Feb 2023: 3Mar 2023: 4Apr 2023: 5May 2023: 5Jun 2023: 2Jul 2023: 2Aug 2023: 2Sep 2023: 6Oct 2023: 4Nov 2023: 4Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 7Feb 2024: 2Mar 2024: 1Apr 2024: 2May 2024: 3Jun 2024: 1Jul 2024: 2Aug 2024: 4Sep 2024: 5Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 2Dec 2024: 22025Jan 2025: 1Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 1May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 3Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 1Sep 2025: 1Oct 2025: 8Nov 2025: 1Dec 2025: 12026Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 4Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 2Aug 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

035692020: 3720202021: 6920212022: 3820222023: 4320232024: 3120242025: 1720252026: 72026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.4%1
Injury92.1%223
Malfunction7.4%18
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%242
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 2,909 reports carrying product code NQO. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed5020.7%7.6%
Lack of effect2610.7%3.1%
Device dislodged or dislocated187.4%3.3%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material125%43.8%
Difficult to open or close41.7%6.2%
Defective devicethe device was defective20.8%0.5%
Material twisted/bent20.8%1.7%
Human-device interface problem10.4%0.1%
Insufficient device problem information10.4%8.6%
Malposition of device10.4%0.9%

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
Painpain, site not specified6828.1%
Inadequate pain relief135.4%
Falla fall114.5%
Bone fracture(s)104.1%
Therapeutic effects, unexpected93.7%
Vertebral fracture72.9%
Discomfortdiscomfort62.5%
Numbnessnumbness52.1%
Complaint, ill-defined31.2%
Implant pain31.2%
Balance problems20.8%
Burning sensationa burning feeling20.8%
Fever20.8%
Fluid discharge20.8%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient20.8%

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

In context

MeasureSuperion Interspinous SpacerProduct code NQOAll MAUDE reports
Reports2422,90926,136,888
Share of that pool—8.3%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports429
Classified as injury92.1%45%36.2%
Classified as malfunction7.4%51.6%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99.3%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 NQO

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Superion Indirect Decompression System1,7895920%
X-Stop Ipd System39700.8%
Driver214270%

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 Superion Interspinous Spacer reports

How many FDA reports name Superion Interspinous Spacer?

242 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 18 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (92.1%), malfunction (7.4%) and death (0.4%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

migration (20.7%), lack of effect (10.7%), device dislodged or dislocated (7.4%), material integrity problem (5%) and difficult to open or close (1.7%). 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 Superion Interspinous Spacer 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.