MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ZIMMER SWITZERLAND MANUFACTURING GMBH BLUNT TIP SCREW, 4X46MM; AFFIXUS(R) NATURAL NAIL(R) SYSTEM HUMERAL NAIL

Model Number N/A

Device Problems Patient Device Interaction Problem (4001); Migration (4003)

Patient Problems Pain (1994); Insufficient Information (4580)

Event Date 01/21/2021

Event Type  Injury  

Manufacturer Narrative

Concomitant medical products: proximal humerus, right, long, 8.5x220mm; item# 47249622008; lot# 2995321.Blunt tip screw, 4x48mm; item# 47248604840; lot# 2995313.Blunt tip screw, 4x36mm; item# 47248603640; lot# 3006508.Blunt tip screw, 4x52mm; item# 47248605240; lot# 2989725.The manufacturer received x-ray and other source documents for review.The manufacturer did not receive the device for investigation.The device history records were reviewed and found to be conforming.Additional information has been requested and is currently not available.A cause for this specific event cannot be ascertained from the information provided.As soon as supplemental information becomes available an updated report will be submitted.(b)(4).

Event Description

Patient was implanted on the right side and underwent revision due to implant migration.

Manufacturer Narrative

Event description: it was reported that the patient underwent primary implantation of a affixus natural proximal humeral nail on (b)(6) 2020 using four 4.0mm blunt tip screws proximally, which were locked in place using the torque limiting handle.Six weeks later, the most proximal screw backed out.A revision surgery was carried out on (b)(6) 2021, whereby this screw was explanted.Intraoperatively, it was discovered that the second most proximal screw had started to back out as well.This screw was driven back into place and the corelock mechanism was tightened again with a non-torque limiting driver in an attempt to secure the remaining three 4.0mm blunt tip screws from backing out.Review of received data: due diligence: no further due diligence required as all required information to support the conclusion is available or was already requested.X-rays: one undated ap preoperative x-ray of the right humerus has been received.The most proximal blunt tip screw is confirmed to have migrated.The second most proximal screw can however not be confirmed to have migrated due to the angle that the x-ray was taken and no further views of the right humerus being received.Incomplete implant records were received, whereby the product id of the nail, 3x blunt tip screw and 2x cortical screw are seen.Product evaluation: no product was returned; therefore, visual and dimensional evaluation could not be performed.Review of product documentation: device purpose: all involved devices are intended for treatment.Product compatibility: the product combination was approved by zimmer biomet.Dhr review blunt tip screws: review of the device history records identified no deviations or anomalies during manufacturing with a potential correlation to the reported event.Dhr/ncr review affixus nail: ncr(s): 1 part was scrapped due to surface area damage.Surgical technique: the surgical technique explains that the locking of the corelock is done using the corelock driver with torque limiting handle.Turn slowly clockwise to tighten and engage the corelock mechanism until a click is felt from the torque limiting handle.Conclusion: it was reported that the patient underwent primary implantation of a affixus natural proximal humeral nail on (b)(6) 2020 using four 4.0mm blunt tip screws proximally, which were locked in place using the torque limiting handle.Six weeks later, the most proximal screw backed out.A revision surgery was carried out on (b)(6) 2021, whereby this screw was explanted.Intraoperatively, it was discovered that the second most proximal screw had started to back out as well.This screw was driven back into place and the corelock mechanism was tightened again with a non-torque limiting driver in an attempt to secure the remaining three 4.0mm blunt tip screws from backing out.The quality records show that all specified characteristics have met the specifications valid at the time of production.Therefore, the investigation did not identify a nonconformance or a complaint out of box (coob).The received x-ray confirm the reported event, namely that the most proximal screw has migrated.The locking of the corelock during the revision surgery has not been performed as specified in the surgical technique using only the corelock driver with torque limiting handle.Instead, additionally a non-torque limiting screwdriver was used.It remains unknown what the potential effect of this deviation from the surgical technique could be.Based on the investigation it could be assumed that further possible contributing factors to the migration of the screw might be multifactorial related to either patient condition and behaviour, implantation procedure or design features.If and to what extent any of these aspects may have influenced the backing out of the screw remains unknown.In conclusion, as the cause may be multifactorial an exact root cause could not be identified for the migration of the screw.Further investigation has been initiated in order to determine the need of potential corrective and/or preventive actions.The need for corrective measures is not indicated and zimmer switzerland manufacturing gmbh considers this case as closed.Zimmer biomet¿s reference number of this file is (b)(4).

Event Description

No change to previously reported event.

• Brand Name: BLUNT TIP SCREW, 4X46MM
• Type of Device: AFFIXUS(R) NATURAL NAIL(R) SYSTEM HUMERAL NAIL
• Manufacturer (Section D): ZIMMER SWITZERLAND MANUFACTURING GMBH; sulzer allee 8; sulzer industrie park; winterthur 8404 ; SZ 8404
• MDR Report Key: 11337323
• MDR Text Key: 232166984
• Report Number: 0009613350-2021-00082
• Device Sequence Number: 1
• Product Code: HSB
• UDI-Device Identifier: 00889024505476
• UDI-Public: 00889024505476
• Combination Product (y/n): N
• PMA/PMN Number: K200814
• Number of Events Reported: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Report Source: Manufacturer
• Source Type: health professional
• Type of Report: Initial,Followup
• Report Date: 08/24/2021

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Date FDA Received: 02/17/2021
• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: Yes
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Device Operator: Lay User/Patient
• Device Model Number: N/A
• Device Catalogue Number: 47-2486-046-40
• Device Lot Number: 3006009
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: No
• Was the Report Sent to FDA?: No
• Date Manufacturer Received: 08/17/2021
• Is This a Reprocessed and Reused Single-Use Device?: No
• Removal/Correction Number: N/A
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Patient Outcome(s): Hospitalization; Required Intervention