DEPTH GAUGE FOR 3.5MM CORTEX SCREWS

Description of Event or Problem

IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE DEPTH GAUGE IS MISSING SMALL SILVER BALL ON SIDE OF DEVICE. THERE WAS NO OPERATION AND PATIENT INVOLVEMENT.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative

PRODUCT COMPLAINT # (B)(4). THIS REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF 21 CFR, PART 803 (AND/OR PART 4, AS APPLICABLE). THIS REPORT MAY BE BASED ON INFORMATION WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED OR VERIFIED PRIOR TO THE REQUIRED REPORTING DATE. THIS REPORT DOES NOT REFLECT A CONCLUSION BY DEPUY SYNTHES, OR ITS EMPLOYEES THAT THE REPORT CONSTITUTES AN ADMISSION THAT THE PRODUCT, DEPUY SYNTHES, OR ITS EMPLOYEES CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE POTENTIAL EVENT DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT. ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE: D4: UDI: AS THE LOT NUMBER FOR THE DEVICE INVOLVED IN THE EVENT WAS NOT PROVIDED, THE FULL UDI IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. H3, H6: PRODUCT INVESTIGATION SUMMARY: THE PRODUCT WAS RETURNED TO DEPUY SYNTHES FOR EVALUATION. VISUAL ANALYSIS OF THE RETURNED SAMPLE REVEALED THAT THE HOOK OF THE DEPTH GAUGE F/CORTSCR Ø3.5 MEAS-RANGE UP WAS BENT ALONG THE SHAFT. FURTHERMORE, THE SLEEVE WAS NOT RETURNED FOR EVALUATION. ADDITIONALLY, SIGNS OF BREAKAGE WAS OBSERVED ON THE AREA WERE THE BALL AND THE SPRING ARE. ITS WORTH MENTIONING THAT BOTH COMPONENTS WERE NOT RETURNED FOR INSPECTION. THE OBSERVED CONDITION OF THE DEVICE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A RANDOM COMPONENT FAILURE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO UNINTENDED FORCES. A DIMENSIONAL INSPECTION WAS UNABLE TO BE PERFORMED DUE TO THE POST-MANUFACTURING DAMAGE. A FUNCTIONAL TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED SINCE IT WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE COMPLAINT CONDITION. THE OVERALL COMPLAINT WAS CONFIRMED AS THE OBSERVED CONDITION OF THE DEPTH GAUGE F/CORTSCR Ø3.5 MEAS-RANGE UP WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPLAINED ISSUE. BASED ON THE INVESTIGATION FINDINGS, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT NO CORRECTIVE AND/OR PREVENTATIVE ACTION IS REQUIRED. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE HAS CAUSED THE REPORTED COMPLAINT CONDITION. AS PART OF DEPUY SYNTHES QUALITY PROCESS, ALL DEVICES ARE MANUFACTURED, INSPECTED, AND RELEASED TO APPROVED SPECIFICATIONS. ADDITIONAL MONITORING FOR ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY SIGNALS WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH COMPLAINT TRENDING AND OTHER POST-MARKET SAFETY SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES. THE DEVICE LOT NUMBER IS UNKNOWN; THEREFORE, A DEVICE HISTORY REVIEW COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. IF THE LOT/SERIAL NUMBER BECOMES AVAILABLE, THE RECORD WILL BE RE-ASSESSED. IF INFORMATION IS OBTAINED THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE INITIAL MEDWATCH, A FOLLOW-UP MEDWATCH WILL BE FILED AS APPROPRIATE.