FIRSTPASS SUTURE PASSER

Description of Event or Problem

IT WAS REPORTED THAT, DURING A SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY, ONE (1) FIRSTPASS SUTURE PASSER WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE RATCHET AND TENDON; WHEN THE DOCTOR PULLED THE FORCEPS, THE WIRE CAME LOOSE FROM THE RATCHET. A GRASPER FORCEPS WAS USED TO BRING THE WIRE OUT OF THE JOINT AND COMPLETE THE SURGERY. THE PROCEDURE WAS RESUMED, WITHOUT ANY DELAY, USING THE SAME DEVICE. NO FURTHER COMPLICATIONS WERE REPORTED.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative

H11: INTERNAL COMPLAINT REFERENCE (B)(4). H3, H6: THIS COMPLAINT WAS OPENED BY SMITH+NEPHEW TO DOCUMENT A PRODUCT PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH A SMITH+NEPHEW DEVICE. THE REPORTED PROBLEM RELATES TO KNOWN RISKS WITH THE DEVICE ITSELF OR WITH ITS USE THAT ARE APPROPRIATELY DOCUMENTED IN OUR RISK FILES. SMITH+NEPHEW WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR TRENDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR POST-MARKET SURVEILLANCE PROCESS AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION AS REQUIRED IF ANTICIPATED SEVERITY AND/OR OCCURRENCE RATES ARE EXCEEDED. SMITH+NEPHEW HAS NO REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THE PRODUCT FAILED TO MEET ANY SPECIFICATIONS AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. BASED ON OUR REVIEW OF ALL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION, WE ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A DEFINITIVE ROOT CAUSE. HOWEVER, AS THE USE OF OUR PRODUCT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR TO THE REPORTED ISSUE, WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE REGULATIONS. IF ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS OR INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE THAT ALTERS THE CONCLUSIONS OF THIS REPORT, A FOLLOW-UP REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED AS REQUIRED.