Devices › Screw, fixation, bone
Device brand name · Screw fixation bone
Unknown Screws: medical device reports filed with FDA
652 reports name it, 2017–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Medos International S Rl Ch. Product code HWC.
- 652
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 72 a year
- 23
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 53 in the 12 months before
- 21.9%
- classified as malfunction
- 30.8% across the product code
- 1.7%
- classified as death, as reported
- 11 reports · not verified by FDA
FDA's MAUDE database holds 652 reports that name the brand "Unknown Screws" (screw fixation bone), received between July 2017 and May 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Medos International S Rl Ch. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.
23 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 57% from 53 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 (76.4%), malfunction (21.9%) and death (1.7%); 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 (17.9%), device-device incompatibility (13.8%) and device slipped (12.3%). 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
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 | 117 | 17.9% | 26.4% |
| Device-device incompatibility | 90 | 13.8% | 4.1% |
| Device slipped | 80 | 12.3% | 1.9% |
| Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed | 70 | 10.7% | 4.4% |
| Loose or intermittent connection | 33 | 5.1% | 0.6% |
| Material twisted/bent | 20 | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Unintended movement | 16 | 2.5% | 0.9% |
| Difficult to advance | 11 | 1.7% | 0.4% |
| Entrapment of device | 11 | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Loosening of implant not related to bone-ingrowth | 8 | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Migration or expulsion of device | 8 | 1.2% | 2.1% |
| Fracturea broken bone | 6 | 0.9% | 4.2% |
| Inaccurate information | 6 | 0.9% | 0% |
| Improper or incorrect procedure or method | 5 | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| Insufficient device problem information | 4 | 0.6% | 4.3% |
| Device dislodged or dislocated | 3 | 0.5% | 1.8% |
| Material deformation | 3 | 0.5% | 1% |
| Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off | 2 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly | 1 | 0.2% | 1.8% |
| Disconnection | 1 | 0.2% | 0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Painpain, site not specified | 72 | 11% |
| Failure of implant | 48 | 7.4% |
| Nonunion/delayed-union bone fracture | 37 | 5.7% |
| Osteolysis | 33 | 5.1% |
| Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available | 32 | 4.9% |
| Spinal column injury | 30 | 4.6% |
| Nerve damage | 23 | 3.5% |
| Injurya physical injury | 21 | 3.2% |
| Not applicable | 18 | 2.8% |
| Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient | 15 | 2.3% |
| Hypersensitivity/allergic reaction | 15 | 2.3% |
| Dysphagia/ odynophagia | 12 | 1.8% |
| Spinal cord injury | 9 | 1.4% |
| Bone fracture(s) | 8 | 1.2% |
| Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped | 8 | 1.2% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | Unknown Screws | Product code HWC | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 652 | 58,946 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 1.1% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 17 | 1 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 76.4% | 67.2% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 21.9% | 30.8% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 99.8% | 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: Locking | 2,331 | 98 | 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% |
| 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 Unknown Screws reports
How many FDA reports name Unknown Screws?
652 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 23 in the latest 12 months.
What kinds of events are reported?
injury (76.4%), malfunction (21.9%) and death (1.7%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
break (17.9%), device-device incompatibility (13.8%), device slipped (12.3%), migration (10.7%) and loose or intermittent connection (5.1%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.
Who files these reports?
manufacturer reports (99.8%) and voluntary reports (0.2%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.
Do these reports show that Unknown Screws 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.