Reported Reactions

Devices › Prosthesis, knee, patellofemorotibial, semi-constrained, cemented, polymer/metal/polymer

Device brand name · Prosthesis knee

Unknown Bearing: medical device reports filed with FDA

317 reports name it, 2013–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Zimmer Biomet. Product code JWH.

317
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 24 a year
84
reports, 12 months to August 2026
20 in the 12 months before
2.2%
classified as malfunction
14.7% across the product code
0.3%
classified as death, as reported
1 reports · not verified by FDA

317 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Unknown Bearing" (prosthesis knee); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Zimmer Biomet; received from May 2013 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

84 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 320% from 20 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 (97.5%), malfunction (2.2%) and death (0.3%); across all prosthesis, knee, patellofemorotibial, semi-constrained, cemented, polymer/metal/polymer reports (product code JWH) death is recorded in 0.2% and malfunction in 14.7%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are insufficient device problem information (23.7%), device dislodged or dislocated (9.5%) and naturally worn (9.5%). The patient problems coded most often are pain, joint dislocation and loss of range of motion. 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

01529Sep 2021: 4Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 1Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 3Feb 2022: 2Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 1Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 1Aug 2022: 3Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 1Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 2Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 0Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 1Jun 2023: 3Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 1Sep 2023: 1Oct 2023: 2Nov 2023: 2Dec 2023: 32024Jan 2024: 1Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 3Apr 2024: 4May 2024: 3Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 3Sep 2024: 1Oct 2024: 1Nov 2024: 0Dec 2024: 42025Jan 2025: 3Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 5Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 2Aug 2025: 4Sep 2025: 4Oct 2025: 1Nov 2025: 1Dec 2025: 292026Jan 2026: 5Feb 2026: 5Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 6May 2026: 1Jun 2026: 20Jul 2026: 9Aug 2026: 2

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

025502013: 520132014: 52017: 4220172018: 242019: 5020192020: 172021: 3020212022: 112023: 1520232024: 202025: 4920252026: 49

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.3%1
Injury97.5%309
Malfunction2.2%7
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%317
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 158,133 reports carrying product code JWH. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Insufficient device problem information7523.7%18.1%
Device dislodged or dislocated309.5%1.7%
Naturally worn309.5%6.8%
Unstable299.1%4.3%
Fracturea broken bone61.9%7.3%
Noise, audible61.9%1%
Migration or expulsion of device41.3%1.5%
Loosening of implant not related to bone-ingrowth30.9%4%
Material erosion30.9%0.2%
Positioning failure30.9%0.2%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off20.6%1.2%
Mechanical problema mechanical problem20.6%0.5%
Patient device interaction problem20.6%0.5%
Compatibility problem10.3%0%
Device appears to trigger rejection10.3%0.5%
Difficult to insertthe device was hard to insert10.3%0.8%
Inadequacy of device shape and/or size10.3%0.5%
Malposition of device10.3%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 specified6921.8%
Joint dislocationa dislocated joint309.5%
Loss of range of motion196%
Arthrofibrosis123.8%
Joint laxity113.5%
Swellingswelling113.5%
Failure of implant92.8%
Joint impingement82.5%
Medical device site infectioninfection at the device site82.5%
Extraskeletal ossification72.2%
Fluid discharge61.9%
Limited mobility of the implanted joint61.9%
Ambulation or postural difficulties51.6%
Impaired healingslow healing51.6%
Swelling/ edema41.3%

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

In context

MeasureUnknown BearingProduct code JWHAll MAUDE reports
Reports317158,13326,136,888
Share of that pool—0.2%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports329
Classified as injury97.5%84.1%36.2%
Classified as malfunction2.2%14.7%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%98.4%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 JWH

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Unknown Knee Tibial Insert2,2471300.2%
Unknown Knee Femoral1,897650.2%
Unknown Knee Tibial Tray1,958570.2%
Persona Tibial Articular Surface Provisional1,58400%
Itotal G21,25000%
Specific Device Not Reported1,462200.2%
Apex Knee System1,001490%
Djo Surgical4,7132,4480%
Unknown Knee1,847181.5%
Attune Fb Tib Base Sz 5 Cem863180%
Attune Fb Tib Base Sz 4 Cem797140%
Pfc Sigma/Ov/Dome Pat 3peg 3880630.4%
Unknown Knee Patella791260.4%
Unknown Reconstructive Product2,57900.4%
UNK Attune Knee Tibial Insert8951020.1%

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 Unknown Bearing reports

How many FDA reports name Unknown Bearing?

317 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 84 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (97.5%), malfunction (2.2%) and death (0.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

insufficient device problem information (23.7%), device dislodged or dislocated (9.5%), naturally worn (9.5%), unstable (9.1%) and fracture (1.9%). 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 Unknown Bearing 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.