Reported Reactions

Devices › Screw, fixation, bone

Device brand name · Prosthesis hip

Unknown Screw: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,222 reports name it, 2011–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Zimmer Biomet. Product code HWC.

1,222
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 82 a year
156
reports, 12 months to August 2026
135 in the 12 months before
11.3%
classified as malfunction
30.8% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

1,222 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Unknown Screw" (prosthesis hip); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Zimmer Biomet; received from August 2011 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

156 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 16% from 135 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 (88.7%) and malfunction (11.3%); 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 fracture (19.9%), loosening of implant not related to bone-ingrowth (10.6%) and migration (9.4%). The patient problems coded most often are pain, failure of implant and nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture. 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

01224Sep 2021: 7Oct 2021: 8Nov 2021: 3Dec 2021: 132022Jan 2022: 20Feb 2022: 3Mar 2022: 3Apr 2022: 8May 2022: 7Jun 2022: 2Jul 2022: 2Aug 2022: 3Sep 2022: 13Oct 2022: 4Nov 2022: 1Dec 2022: 82023Jan 2023: 7Feb 2023: 6Mar 2023: 5Apr 2023: 20May 2023: 8Jun 2023: 5Jul 2023: 8Aug 2023: 21Sep 2023: 20Oct 2023: 14Nov 2023: 19Dec 2023: 82024Jan 2024: 6Feb 2024: 11Mar 2024: 19Apr 2024: 19May 2024: 23Jun 2024: 21Jul 2024: 11Aug 2024: 4Sep 2024: 10Oct 2024: 19Nov 2024: 9Dec 2024: 52025Jan 2025: 1Feb 2025: 13Mar 2025: 12Apr 2025: 10May 2025: 12Jun 2025: 15Jul 2025: 19Aug 2025: 10Sep 2025: 3Oct 2025: 16Nov 2025: 10Dec 2025: 152026Jan 2026: 11Feb 2026: 10Mar 2026: 20Apr 2026: 5May 2026: 15Jun 2026: 24Jul 2026: 24Aug 2026: 3

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

0791572011: 320112012: 32013: 720132014: 152015: 2220152016: 542017: 7520172018: 1342019: 10220192020: 1252021: 6220212022: 742023: 14120232024: 1572025: 13620252026: 112

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury88.7%1,084
Malfunction11.3%138
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99.7%1,218
Voluntary report0.1%1
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0.2%3
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
Fracturea broken bone24319.9%4.2%
Loosening of implant not related to bone-ingrowth12910.6%0.6%
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed1159.4%4.4%
Insufficient device problem information756.1%4.3%
Breakthe device broke625.1%26.4%
Migration or expulsion of device514.2%2.1%
Device dislodged or dislocated292.4%1.8%
Malposition of device252%0.5%
Loss of osseointegration191.6%0.5%
Osseointegration problem171.4%0.1%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove151.2%1.4%
Loss of or failure to bond151.2%0.1%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off131.1%0.6%
Loose or intermittent connection131.1%0.6%
Corrodedthe device corroded90.7%0.3%
Difficult to insertthe device was hard to insert90.7%1.2%
Device slipped70.6%1.9%
Noise, audible70.6%0.1%
Unstable70.6%0.1%
Material deformation60.5%1%

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 specified26321.5%
Failure of implant16913.8%
Nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture977.9%
Swelling/ edema746.1%
Injurya physical injury736%
Aseptic loosening413.4%
Osteolysis393.2%
Loss of range of motion383.1%
Joint dislocationa dislocated joint373%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient342.8%
Bone fracture(s)332.7%
Implant pain332.7%
Inadequate osseointegration312.5%
Metal related pathology302.5%
Numbnessnumbness272.2%

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

In context

MeasureUnknown ScrewProduct code HWCAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,22258,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—2.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury88.7%67.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction11.3%30.8%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99.7%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%
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 Unknown Screw reports

How many FDA reports name Unknown Screw?

1,222 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 156 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (88.7%) and malfunction (11.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

fracture (19.9%), loosening of implant not related to bone-ingrowth (10.6%), migration (9.4%), insufficient device problem information (6.1%) and break (5.1%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99.7%), distributor reports (0.2%) and voluntary reports (0.1%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Unknown Screw 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.