Events

Recall of Synthes Sternal ZIPFIX Application Instrument

According to New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, this recall involved a device in New Zealand that was produced by Synthes GmbH.

What is this?

A correction or removal action taken by a manufacturer to address a problem with a medical device. Recalls occur when a medical device is defective, when it could be a risk to health, or when it is both defective and a risk to health.

Learn more about the data here
  • Type of Event
    Recall
  • Event ID
    19172
  • Event Initiated Date
    2015-09-23
  • Event Country
    New Zealand
  • Event Source
    NZMMDSA
  • Event Source URL
    https://medsafe.govt.nz/hot/Recalls/RecallSearch.asp
  • Notes / Alerts
    Data from New Zealand is current through July 2018. All of the data comes from the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, except for the categories Manufacturer Parent Company and Product Classification.
    The Parent Company and the Product Classification were added by ICIJ.
    The parent company information is based on 2017 public records. The device classification information comes from FDA’s Product Classification by Review Panel, based on matches of recall data from the U.S. and New Zealand.
  • Extra notes in the data
    Recalling Organisation: Johnson & Johnson (NZ) Limited, 13a Gabador Place, Mt Wellington, AUCKLAND
  • Reason
    In the affected lots of the application instrument for sternal zipfix :, * the end cap may loosen, thus reducing the tension applied to the implant., * the end cap may detach, allowing the tensioning spring to also become detached, making the instrument non-functional., if the end cap is loose, the maximum tension applied to the implant is reduced and may lead to insufficient sternal bone reduction. if the tension coil spring detaches completely from the zipfix application instrument while closing the sternum, it is possible that the spring or nut could fall into the thoracic cavity and go undetected. if the nut/spring is retained in the thoracic cavity, adverse tissue reaction may occur. no such occurrence has been reported to date.
  • Action
    Product to be returned to supplier

Device

Synthes Sternal ZIPFIX Application Instrument
  • Model / Serial
    Model: 03.501.080, Affected: Multiple lot numbers
  • Manufacturer
    Synthes GmbH

Manufacturer

Synthes GmbH