Reported Reactions

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

077154Sep 2021: 39Oct 2021: 69Nov 2021: 25Dec 2021: 202022Jan 2022: 4Feb 2022: 8Mar 2022: 9Apr 2022: 20May 2022: 5Jun 2022: 6Jul 2022: 12Aug 2022: 14Sep 2022: 11Oct 2022: 37Nov 2022: 12Dec 2022: 272023Jan 2023: 16Feb 2023: 6Mar 2023: 16Apr 2023: 12May 2023: 19Jun 2023: 12Jul 2023: 25Aug 2023: 11Sep 2023: 19Oct 2023: 8Nov 2023: 15Dec 2023: 152024Jan 2024: 17Feb 2024: 19Mar 2024: 14Apr 2024: 154May 2024: 129Jun 2024: 14Jul 2024: 36Aug 2024: 32Sep 2024: 17Oct 2024: 22Nov 2024: 19Dec 2024: 62025Jan 2025: 15Feb 2025: 13Mar 2025: 20Apr 2025: 48May 2025: 16Jun 2025: 16Jul 2025: 7Aug 2025: 12Sep 2025: 4Oct 2025: 6Nov 2025: 25Dec 2025: 212026Jan 2026: 12Feb 2026: 19Mar 2026: 6Apr 2026: 2May 2026: 1Jun 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

02675342019: 25320192020: 53420202021: 48120212022: 16520222023: 17420232024: 47920242025: 20320252026: 422026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%1
Injury85.7%1,997
Malfunction14.3%333
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%2,331
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

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 broke33514.4%26.4%
Device-device incompatibility25510.9%4.1%
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed2199.4%4.4%
Material twisted/bent803.4%1.4%
Entrapment of device361.5%1.2%
Device slipped301.3%1.9%
Difficult to advance120.5%0.4%
Migration or expulsion of device90.4%2.1%
Unintended movement70.3%0.9%
Manufacturing, packaging or shipping problem50.2%0.5%
Material deformation50.2%1%
Compatibility problem30.1%0.1%
Device difficult to maintain30.1%0%
Insufficient device problem information20.1%4.3%
Material fragmentation20.1%1.3%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material20.1%0.2%
Contamination /decontamination problem10%0%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off10%0.6%
Fitting problem10%0.4%
Improper or incorrect procedure or method10%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)ReportsShare
Nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture54423.3%
Painpain, site not specified30513.1%
Failure of implant1657.1%
Bone fracture(s)1345.7%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available1154.9%
Post operative wound infection682.9%
Loss of range of motion662.8%
Malunion of bone612.6%
Muscular rigidity532.3%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient522.2%
Wound dehiscencea wound reopened472%
Impaired healingslow healing451.9%
Physical asymmetry451.9%
Injurya physical injury371.6%
Discomfortdiscomfort321.4%

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

In context

MeasureUNK - Screws: LockingProduct code HWCAll MAUDE reports
Reports2,33158,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—4%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury85.7%67.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction14.3%30.8%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%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 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%
Locking Screw24130%
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 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.