MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ETHICON INC. VCL+ UD 18IN 5-0 S/A P-1 PRM; SUTURE, ABSORBABLE, SYNTHETIC

Catalog Number	VCP490G
Medical Device Problem Code	Break (1069)
Health Effect - Clinical Code	No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions (4582)
Type of Reportable Event	Malfunction
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
Product complaint # (b)(4) this report is being submitted pursuant to the provisions of 21 cfr part 803, part 4 subpart b.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 ethicon, or its employees that the report constitutes an admission that the product, ethicon, or its employees caused or contributed to the potential event described in this report.If information is obtained that was not available for the initial report, a follow-up report will be filed as appropriate.Additional information was requested and the following response was provided: did the needle fall into the patient? unk if yes, was the needle piece(s) retrieved during the same procedure? were x-rays taken to locate the needle piece(s)? what measures were taken to retrieve the broken piece? was there any additional tissue damage as a result of searching for the needle piece? if not retrieved, in what tissue structure the needle was retained? is there any plan in place to remove the needle in the future? please provide details.Can you identify the lot number of the product involved?104aer the needle was broken and fell off temporarily, but it was removed without losing.The needle did not come out during suturing the anal fistula.The doctor thinks that the needle has been retrieved.Attempts are being made to retrieve the device.To date the device has not been returned.If the device or further details are received at a later date a supplemental medwatch will be sent.H6 component code: g07002 ¿ device not returned.
Event or Problem Description
It was reported that a patient underwent an unknown procedure on and unknown date and suture was used.The needle was broken when putting the 1st stitch during the operation.It was not a control release needle.Another product was used to complete the case.There were no adverse consequences to the patient.Additional information was requested.
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
Product complaint # (b)(4).This report is being submitted pursuant to the provisions of 21 cfr, part 803.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 ethicon inc, or its employees that the report constitutes an admission that the product, ethicon inc or its employees caused or contributed to the potential event described in this report.If information is obtained that was not available for the initial report, a follow-up report will be filed as appropriate.Additional information: h6, d9, h3.H3 investigation summary: a failed suture needle, labeled as (b)(4), was submitted to herrera, stafford and associates, llc (hsa) for fractographic evaluation on september 2, 2025.The component was identified as product code vcp4890g.It was requested that hsa assess the fracture mode of the failure.According to the information, it was reported breakage needle.The product received for analysis was vcp490g.Visual inspection and metallurgical analysis were performed on the returned product.A fracture was observed in the body of the needle.The needle was received in two pieces, only one of the mating fracture surfaces was examined for this evaluation.A scanning electron microscope (sem) was used to examine the fracture surfaces and surrounding area of the needle.The fracture surfaces were examined in multiple locations to determine the fracture mode.The evaluation of pc-001931561 revealed the fracture contained a ¿woody¿ structure near the suture attachment.This is consistent with a failure in the forming direction of the wire.This was a ductile fracture.A manufacturing record evaluation was performed for the finished device 104aer / vcp490g batch number, and no non-conformances were identified.

• Brand Name: VCL+ UD 18IN 5-0 S/A P-1 PRM
• Common Device Name: SUTURE, ABSORBABLE, SYNTHETIC
• Manufacturer (Section D): ETHICON INC.; 1000 route 202; raritan NJ 08869
• Manufacturer (Section G): ETHICON INC.-JUAREZ; calle durango #2751; ciudad juarez 32575 ; MX 32575
• Manufacturer Contact: orla o'mahony ; 1000 route 202; raritan, NJ 08869 ; 3035526892
• MDR Report Key: 22905532
• Report Number: 2210968-2025-09856
• Device Sequence Number: 8851392
• Product Code: GAM
• UDI-Device Identifier: 10705031053632
• UDI-Public: (01)10705031053632(17)290930(10)104AER
• Combination Product (Y/N): Y
• Initial Reporter Country: JA
• PMA/510(K) Number: K032420
• Number of Events Summarized: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Serviced by Third Party (Y/N): Unknown
• Reporter Type: Manufacturer
• Report Source: Foreign,Health Professional,Company Representative
• Initial Reporter Occupation: Other
• Type of Report: Initial,Followup
• Report Date (Section B): 11/06/2025

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: No
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Operator of Device: Health Professional
• Device Catalogue Number: VCP490G
• Device Lot Number: 104AER
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: Device Returned to Manufacturer
• Is the Reporter a Health Professional?: No
• Type of Report(Section G): Thirty-Day
• Initial Date Received by Manufacturer: 07/31/2025
• Supplement Date Received by Manufacturer: 11/06/2025
• Initial Report FDA Received Date: 08/27/2025
• Supplement Report FDA Received Date: 11/06/2025
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer? (Y/N): Yes
• Date Device Manufactured: 10/25/2024
• Is the Device Labeled for Single Use? (Y/N): Yes
• Is This a Single-Use Device that was Reprocessed and Reused on a Patient? (Y/N): No
• Usage of Device: Initial
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Patient Sex: Unknown