Devices › Screw, fixation, bone
Device brand name · Screw fixation bone
UNK - Screws: Locking: medical device reports filed with FDA
2,331 reports name it, 2019–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Synthes. Product code HWC.
- 2,331
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 325 a year
- 98
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 211 in the 12 months before
- 14.3%
- classified as malfunction
- 30.8% across the product code
- 0%
- classified as death, as reported
- 1 reports · not verified by FDA
FDA's MAUDE database holds 2,331 reports that name the brand "UNK - Screws: Locking" (screw fixation bone), received between May 2019 and July 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Synthes. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.
98 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 54% from 211 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 (85.7%) and malfunction (14.3%); 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 (14.4%), device-device incompatibility (10.9%) and migration (9.4%). The patient problems coded most often are nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture, pain and failure of implant. 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 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) | Reports | Share | Share across product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakthe device broke | 335 | 14.4% | 26.4% |
| Device-device incompatibility | 255 | 10.9% | 4.1% |
| Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed | 219 | 9.4% | 4.4% |
| Material twisted/bent | 80 | 3.4% | 1.4% |
| Entrapment of device | 36 | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Device slipped | 30 | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Difficult to advance | 12 | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Migration or expulsion of device | 9 | 0.4% | 2.1% |
| Unintended movement | 7 | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Manufacturing, packaging or shipping problem | 5 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Material deformation | 5 | 0.2% | 1% |
| Compatibility problem | 3 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Device difficult to maintain | 3 | 0.1% | 0% |
| Insufficient device problem information | 2 | 0.1% | 4.3% |
| Material fragmentation | 2 | 0.1% | 1.3% |
| Material integrity problema problem with the device material | 2 | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Contamination /decontamination problem | 1 | 0% | 0% |
| Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off | 1 | 0% | 0.6% |
| Fitting problem | 1 | 0% | 0.4% |
| Improper or incorrect procedure or method | 1 | 0% | 0.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture | 544 | 23.3% |
| Painpain, site not specified | 305 | 13.1% |
| Failure of implant | 165 | 7.1% |
| Bone fracture(s) | 134 | 5.7% |
| Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available | 115 | 4.9% |
| Post operative wound infection | 68 | 2.9% |
| Loss of range of motion | 66 | 2.8% |
| Malunion of bone | 61 | 2.6% |
| Muscular rigidity | 53 | 2.3% |
| Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient | 52 | 2.2% |
| Wound dehiscencea wound reopened | 47 | 2% |
| Impaired healingslow healing | 45 | 1.9% |
| Physical asymmetry | 45 | 1.9% |
| Injurya physical injury | 37 | 1.6% |
| Discomfortdiscomfort | 32 | 1.4% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | UNK - Screws: Locking | Product code HWC | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 2,331 | 58,946 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 4% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 85.7% | 67.2% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 14.3% | 30.8% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 100% | 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
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNK - Screws: Trauma | 3,576 | 288 | 0% |
| Unk - Screws Cortex | 889 | 16 | 0% |
| Unknown Screw | 1,222 | 156 | 0% |
| Screw | 647 | 0 | 0% |
| UNK - Screws: Nail Distal Locking | 444 | 12 | 0.2% |
| Unknown Screws | 652 | 23 | 1.7% |
| UNK - Screws: CMF | 410 | 280 | 0% |
| UNK - Screws: Locking: Trauma | 276 | 34 | 0% |
| Unk - Screws 3 5 Mm Cortex | 220 | 33 | 0% |
| Unk - Screws Nail Locking | 211 | 19 | 0% |
| UNK - Screws: 2.7 mm VA Locking | 204 | 22 | 0% |
| Unk - Screws Cannulated | 190 | 9 | 0.5% |
| Unk - Screws | 256 | 0 | 0% |
| Locking Screw | 241 | 3 | 0% |
| Ni | 32,939 | 1,587 | 1.8% |
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 UNK - Screws: Locking reports
How many FDA reports name UNK - Screws: Locking?
2,331 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 98 in the latest 12 months.
What kinds of events are reported?
injury (85.7%) and malfunction (14.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
break (14.4%), device-device incompatibility (10.9%), migration (9.4%), material twisted/bent (3.4%) and entrapment of device (1.5%). 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 UNK - Screws: Locking 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.