MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ETHICON INC. VCL+ UD 27IN 4-0 S/A FS-2; SUTURE, ABSORBABLE, SYNTHETIC, POLYGLYCOLIC ACID

Catalog Number	VCP422H
Medical Device Problem Code	Break (1069)
Health Effect - Clinical Code	Insufficient Information (4580)
Date of Event	12/04/2025
Type of Reportable Event	Serious Injury
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
Product complaint #: (b)(4).This is a combination product, and the event has been reviewed for both the suture and the triclosan.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.A manufacturing record evaluation was performed for the finished device lot number, and no related non-conformances were identified.Attempts have been 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.Attempts are being made to obtain the following information.To date no response has been provided.If further details are received at a later date a supplemental medwatch will be sent: please provide the patient's demographic information including age, gender, weight, bmi at the time of index procedure.On what tissue was the suture used? what was the tissue condition (normal, thin, calcified, fragile, diseased)? what instruments were used to grasp the needle? where was the needle grasped during use? did the operating surgeon observe any suture deficiency or anomaly before, during, after the suture placement or during any re-operation? other relevant patient history/concomitant medications? what is the physician¿s opinion as to the etiology of or contributing factors to this event? what is the patient's current status? will product be returned? if so, please provide the return date and tracking information.Surgeon¿s name?.
Event or Problem Description
It was reported that a patient underwent a suture of perineal laceration procedure on (b)(6) 2025 and suture was used.The needle broke during sewing the lateral episiotomy.The broken needle fell into the patient, and the patient was pushed from the delivery room to the operating room.The sewed wound was reopened layer by layer and the needle was found with the help of the c-arm machine.The broken needle was retrieved finally and there was no massive hemorrhage.The patient is fine now.Additional information was requested.
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
Product complaint # (b)(4).This is a combination product, and the event has been reviewed for both the suture and the triclosan.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: d9, h3, h6.Additional information was requested, and the following was obtained: on what tissue was the suture used? skin will product be returned? if so, please provide the return date and tracking information.Yes, the patient is currently recovering well and has been discharged smoothly.No subsequent adverse event report was received.The following information was requested but unavailable: please provide the patient's demographic information including age, gender, weight, bmi at the time of index procedure.What was the tissue condition (normal, thin, calcified, fragile, diseased)? what instruments were used to grasp the needle? where was the needle grasped during use? did the operating surgeon observe any suture deficiency or anomaly before, during, after the suture placement or during any re-operation? other relevant patient history/concomitant medications? what is the physician¿s opinion as to the etiology of or contributing factors to this event? what is the patient's current status? will product be returned? if so, please provide the return date and tracking information.Surgeon¿s name? additional h6 component code: g07002 no device problem.Additional h3 investigation summary.The product was returned to ethicon for evaluation.One used dispensed needle suture combination that pertain to product code vcp422h was received for analysis.Upon visual inspection of the returned sample, the swage and attachment area were noted to be as expected.The tip and body of the needle were examined under magnification and no anomalies or issues related to needle breakage were observed during evaluation.In addition, the sample was tested by resistance test to needle and met the requirements.As part of the ethicon quality process, all devices are manufactured, inspected, and released to approved specifications.No conclusion could be reached on the cause of the reported event.The event described could not be confirmed as the device performed without any difficulties noted.Although no product defect was identified, there may have been other circumstances or issues that occurred during the use of the device that could not be replicated during the laboratory analysis.Additional complaint information monitoring for potential safety signals is conducted through complaint trending as part of post-market surveillance.
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
Product complaint # (b)(4).This is a combination product, and the event has been reviewed for both the suture and the triclosan.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: d9, h3, h6.Investigation summary: the product received for analysis was vcp422h.Visual inspection and metallurgical analysis were performed on the returned product.A failed suture needle was submitted for fractographic evaluation on january 2, 2026.The component was identified as product code vcp422h.It was requested that hsa assess the fracture mode of the failure.A fracture was observed in the body of the needle.One side of the needle was received, the mating fracture surface was not provided 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 revealed the fracture was composed predominantly of microvoid coalescence, which is evidence of a ductile fracture mode.This was a ductile fracture.Additional complaint information monitoring for potential safety signals is conducted through complaint trending as part of post-market surveillance.

• Brand Name: VCL+ UD 27IN 4-0 S/A FS-2
• Common Device Name: SUTURE, ABSORBABLE, SYNTHETIC, POLYGLYCOLIC ACID
• Manufacturer (Section D): ETHICON INC.; 1000 route 202; raritan NJ 08869
• Manufacturer (Section G): ETHICON INC.-SAN ANGELO; 3348 pulliam st; san angelo TX 76905
• Manufacturer Contact: orla o'mahony ; 1000 route 202; raritan, NJ 08869 ; 3035526892
• MDR Report Key: 23887934
• Report Number: 2210968-2025-14512
• Device Sequence Number: 11938772
• Product Code: GAM
• UDI-Device Identifier: 10705031053090
• UDI-Public: (01)10705031053090(17)290630(10)1027E4
• Combination Product (Y/N): Y
• Initial Reporter Country: CH
• PMA/510(K) Number: K181652
• 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,User Facility,Company Representative
• Initial Reporter Occupation: Other
• Type of Report: Initial,Followup,Followup
• Report Date (Section B): 03/05/2026

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: Yes
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Operator of Device: Health Professional
• Device Catalogue Number: VCP422H
• Device Lot Number: 1027E4
• 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: 12/08/2025
• Supplement Date Received by Manufacturer: 12/25/2025; 03/04/2026
• Initial Report FDA Received Date: 12/24/2025
• Supplement Report FDA Received Date: 01/16/2026; 03/05/2026
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer? (Y/N): Yes
• Date Device Manufactured: 07/16/2024
• 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
• Outcome Attributed to Adverse Event: Required Intervention
• Patient Sex: Unknown