Reported Reactions

Devices › Screw, fixation, bone

Device brand name · Screw fixation bone

UNK - Screws: Nail Distal Locking: medical device reports filed with FDA

444 reports name it, 2019–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Synthes. Product code HWC.

444
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 64 a year
12
reports, 12 months to August 2026
27 in the 12 months before
13.3%
classified as malfunction
30.8% across the product code
0.2%
classified as death, as reported
1 reports · not verified by FDA

444 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "UNK - Screws: Nail Distal Locking" (screw fixation bone); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Synthes; received from August 2019 to July 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

12 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 56% from 27 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 (86.5%), malfunction (13.3%) and death (0.2%); 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 migration (29.7%), break (17.8%) and device-device incompatibility (5.4%). The patient problems coded most often are nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture, appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available 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

01325Sep 2021: 7Oct 2021: 4Nov 2021: 10Dec 2021: 92022Jan 2022: 6Feb 2022: 6Mar 2022: 15Apr 2022: 17May 2022: 4Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 8Aug 2022: 6Sep 2022: 5Oct 2022: 10Nov 2022: 15Dec 2022: 242023Jan 2023: 25Feb 2023: 5Mar 2023: 9Apr 2023: 11May 2023: 7Jun 2023: 6Jul 2023: 12Aug 2023: 4Sep 2023: 8Oct 2023: 11Nov 2023: 5Dec 2023: 102024Jan 2024: 12Feb 2024: 5Mar 2024: 8Apr 2024: 7May 2024: 16Jun 2024: 7Jul 2024: 4Aug 2024: 5Sep 2024: 7Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 42025Jan 2025: 2Feb 2025: 7Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 1Jun 2025: 2Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 1Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 3Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 1Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 1May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 4Jul 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

0591172019: 1420192020: 2020202021: 7720212022: 11720222023: 11320232024: 7820242025: 1620252026: 92026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.2%1
Injury86.5%384
Malfunction13.3%59
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%444
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
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed13229.7%4.4%
Breakthe device broke7917.8%26.4%
Device-device incompatibility245.4%4.1%
Device slipped112.5%1.9%
Entrapment of device71.6%1.2%
Device dislodged or dislocated30.7%1.8%
Migration or expulsion of device30.7%2.1%
Difficult to advance20.5%0.4%
Material deformation10.2%1%
Material twisted/bent10.2%1.4%

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 fracture11626.1%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available6013.5%
Failure of implant4710.6%
Painpain, site not specified449.9%
Physical asymmetry214.7%
Bone fracture(s)163.6%
Hematomaa collection of blood under the skin or in tissue71.6%
Limb fracture51.1%
Swelling/ edema51.1%
Discomfortdiscomfort40.9%
Malunion of bone40.9%
Fluid discharge30.7%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient30.7%
Impaired healingslow healing30.7%
Post operative wound infection30.7%

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

In context

MeasureUNK - Screws: Nail Distal LockingProduct code HWCAll MAUDE reports
Reports44458,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—0.8%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports219
Classified as injury86.5%67.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction13.3%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: Locking2,331980%
Unk - Screws Cortex889160%
Unknown Screw1,2221560%
Screw64700%
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: Nail Distal Locking reports

How many FDA reports name UNK - Screws: Nail Distal Locking?

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

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (86.5%), malfunction (13.3%) and death (0.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

migration (29.7%), break (17.8%), device-device incompatibility (5.4%), device slipped (2.5%) and entrapment of device (1.6%). 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: Nail Distal 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.