MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ARTHREX, INC. MULTIFIRE SCORPION NEEDLE; INSTRUMENT, MANUAL, SURGICAL, GENERAL USE

Catalog Number AR-13995N

Device Problems Break (1069); Component Missing (2306); Failure to Advance (2524); Device Or Device Fragments Location Unknown (2590)

Patient Problem No Information (3190)

Event Date 04/04/2017

Event Type  Injury  

Manufacturer Narrative

No further patient information was provided at the time of this report or made available in response to follow-up communication.No additional adverse consequences have been reported from this event.This device is used for treatment.The device was requested for evaluation but was not returned, therefore the complainant's event could not be verified.The cause of the event could not be determined from the information available and without device evaluation.Device history record review revealed nothing relevant to this event.The typical cause for this type of event would be the use of excessive force to pass the needle through thick or hard tissue or hitting bone with the needle.There is a label on the device warning the user against re-sterilizing, reusing, hitting bone or use of excessive force as these may result in needle breakage or patient injury.The potential cause(s) of this event will be communicated to the event reporter.If additional relevant information is received, a follow-up report will be submitted.Unknown device disposition.

Event Description

It was reported that while attempting to pass suture, the scorpion device was not passing the suture.The scorpion device was removed and it was discovered the tip of the multifire scorpion needle was missing.Rep does not know if the tip is in the patient; the surgeon did not want to check with x-ray.

Manufacturer Narrative

Patient demographics (age at time of event, date of birth, gender, weight) were requested but not provided.No further patient information was provided at the time of this report or made available in response to follow-up communication.No additional adverse consequences have been reported from this event.This device is used for treatment.This is a follow-up submission due to evaluation.The failure mode could not be determined but the broken needle point condition is consistent with passing the needle through challenging tissue (thick or calcified) or hitting bone.The buckled needle strip condition is typically caused by the device skiving under thick tissue or distorting distally under the jaw.The distal end of the nitinol point demonstrated minimal scrape marks, indicating the device was not fired excessively.The mating part (instrument) was not returned or identified.Confirmed the needle strip thickness and width dimensions to be within specification.The typical cause for this type of event is the use of excessive force to pass the needle through thick or hard tissue or hitting bone with the needle.There is a label on the device warning the user against re-sterilizing, reusing, hitting bone or use of excessive force as these may result in needle breakage or patient injury.The potential cause(s) of this event will be communicated to the event reporter.If additional relevant information is received, a follow-up report will be submitted.

Event Description

It was reported that while attempting to pass suture, the scorpion device was not passing the suture.The scorpion device was removed and it was discovered the tip of the multifire scorpion needle was missing.Rep does not know if the tip is in the patient; the surgeon did not want to check with x-ray.

• Brand Name: MULTIFIRE SCORPION NEEDLE
• Type of Device: INSTRUMENT, MANUAL, SURGICAL, GENERAL USE
• Manufacturer (Section D): ARTHREX, INC.; 1370 creekside boulevard; naples FL 34108 1945
• Manufacturer (Section G): ARTHREX, INC.; 1370 creekside boulevard; naples FL 34108 1945
• Manufacturer Contact: vik bajnath, sr. mdr analyst. ; 1370 creekside boulevard; naples, FL 34108-1945 ; 8009337017
• MDR Report Key: 6529106
• MDR Text Key: 73901527
• Report Number: 1220246-2017-00152
• Device Sequence Number: 1
• Product Code: MDM
• UDI-Device Identifier: 00888867015951
• UDI-Public: 00888867015951
• Combination Product (y/n): N
• Reporter Country Code: US
• PMA/PMN Number: EXEMPT
• Number of Events Reported: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Report Source: Manufacturer
• Source Type: company representative,distri
• Reporter Occupation: Medical Equipment Company Technician/Representative
• Type of Report: Initial,Followup
• Report Date: 05/26/2017

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Date FDA Received: 04/28/2017
• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: Yes
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: No
• Device Operator: Health Professional
• Device Expiration Date: 12/01/2021
• Device Catalogue Number: AR-13995N
• Device Lot Number: 10105042
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: Device Returned to Manufacturer
• Date Returned to Manufacturer: 05/10/2017
• Is the Reporter a Health Professional?: No
• Date Manufacturer Received: 04/04/2017
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer?: Yes
• Date Device Manufactured: 01/01/2017
• Is the Device Single Use?: Yes
• Is This a Reprocessed and Reused Single-Use Device?: No
• Type of Device Usage: Initial
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Patient Outcome(s): Other
• Patient Age: 55 YR