FORZA
Report
- Report Number
- 2183449-2025-00032
- Event Type
- Malfunction
- Date Received
- November 11, 2025
- Date of Event
- October 30, 2025
- Report Date
- February 24, 2026
- Manufacturer
- ORTHOFIX US LLC
- Product Code
- LXH
- UDI-DI
- 18257200077076
- PMA / PMN Number
- K211704
- Adverse Event
- Yes
- Product Problem
- Yes
- Report Source
- Manufacturer report
- Reporter Location
- GM
- Reporter Occupation
- OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL
- Health Professional
- Yes
Narratives
ADDITIONAL INOFRMATION AND DEVICE RETURN HAS BEEN REQUESTED.
DEVICE RETURNED ON 1/13/26 FOR EVALUTION. THE 9MM TAMP (PN: 89-0153 LN: 38671-PA07) WAS RETURNED FOR INVESTIGATION. IT CAN BE CONFIRMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT IS BROKEN NEAR WHERE THE PRONG MEETS THE HEAD OF THE TAMP. THE REP REPORTED THAT A 9 MM TAMP (89-0153) WAS INADVERTENTLY PROVIDED BY THE SCRUB NURSE INSTEAD OF THE INTENDED 11 MM TAMP (89-0155) WHILE THE SURGEON WAS IMPLANTING AN 11 MM CURVED IMPLANT. BOTH THE 89-0153 AND 89-0155 TAMPS ARE DESIGNED WITH DISTAL PRONGS THAT ENGAGE CORRESPONDING SLOTS ON THE LATERAL ASPECTS OF THE IMPLANT. UTILIZING A 9 MM TAMP WITH AN 11 MM IMPLANT WOULD RESULT IN IMPROPER AND ABNORMAL SEATING OF THE TAMP ONTO THE IMPLANT. ANY IMPACTION FORCES APPLIED UNDER SUCH MISALIGNMENT CONDITIONS WOULD COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TAMP PRONGS. THE 89-0153 TAMP USED IN THIS CASE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JANUARY 2013 AND THE COMPLAINT ORIGINATED IN NOVEMBER 2025, INDICATING THE DEVICE IS MORE THAN 12 YEARS OLD. REPEATED CLINICAL USE OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD WOULD REASONABLY INTRODUCE CUMULATIVE FATIGUE STRESSES TO THE PRONG LEGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN USED WITH CURVED IMPLANTS, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO MATERIAL WEAKENING OVER TIME. BASED ON THE LIMITED INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM THIS SURGERY, THE CURRENT CONCLUSION IS THAT THE PRONG BREAKAGE OF THE 9 MM TAMP OCCURRED DUE TO THE ACCIDENTAL USE OF A 9 MM TAMP ON AN 11 MM IMPLANT, RESULTING IN UNDUE MECHANICAL STRESSES ON A PRONG THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN WEAKENED BY LONG-TERM REPEATED USE ACROSS MULTIPLE PROCEDURES. A REVIEW OF THE PRODUCT DHR SHOWED THAT INSPECTIONS MET DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. A REVIEW OF NCMR DATABASES DID NOT REVEAL ANY NON-CONFORMANCES RELATED TO THIS COMPLAINT. ADDITIONALLY, A BIOCOMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT OF TAMP INSTRUMENT (P/N 89-0153) FRAGMENT WAS COMPLETED, AND IT CONCLUDED THAT: FOLLOWING EVALUATION OF THE TAMP INSTRUMENT (P/N 89-0153) FRAGMENT CONSTRUCTED FROM 420 STAINLESS STEEL, A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATION OF BIOAVAILABILITY WAS DETERMINED FOR ALL MATERIAL CONSTITUENTS FOR SYSTEMIC EXPOSURE. THOSE ESTIMATES WERE TOXICOLOGICALLY RISK ASSESSED AND ACCEPTABLE MARGIN OF SAFETIES (>1) WERE DETERMINED. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOCATION, SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE FRAGMENT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE ANY PHYSICAL INTERACTION RISK FROM A BIOCOMPATIBILITY PERSPECTIVE. AS SUCH, THE PRESENCE OF THIS ADDITIONAL STAINLESS STEEL TAMP FRAGMENT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO INTRODUCE ANY ADDITIONAL TOXICOLOGICAL RISK FOR SYSTEMIC TOXICITY, GENOTOXICITY, CARCINOGENICITY, AND REPRODUCTIVE/DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY.
ON (B)(6), I WAS SUPPORTING A SPINAL SURGERY CASE AT (B)(6). THE SURGEON PERFORMED A THREE-LEVEL SPONDYLOLISTHESIS PROCEDURE AND PLANNED TO USE FORZA TI CAGES AT TWO LEVELS. NORMALLY, THE CLINIC USES FORZA PTC CAGES, BUT DUE TO LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN CERTAIN SIZES, WE DECIDED TO USE THE FORZA TI FOR THIS CASE. DURING THE PROCEDURE, THE SCRUB NURSE ATTACHED A FORZA TI CAGE TO THE 11MM CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT. WHEN THE SURGEON BEGAN INSERTING THE IMPLANT WITH THE MALLET, THE CAGE BECAME LOOSE. UPON REMOVAL, WE OBSERVED THAT PART OF THE SIDE TEETH OF THE CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT HAD BROKEN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE THREADED INSERT FRACTURED, AND A FRAGMENT REMAINED LODGED INSIDE THE CAGE WHICH MADE IT UNUSABLE. THE SURGEON HAD TO LOCATE AND RETRIEVE THE MISSING METAL FRAGMENTS FROM INSIDE THE PATIENT, WHICH FORTUNATELY WERE ALL FOUND. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE SURGEON ATTEMPTED INSERTION AGAIN USING THE OTHER 11MM CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT AND A NEW CAGE OF THE SAME SIZE. ALTHOUGH THE CAGE ATTACHED PROPERLY, THE SECOND IMPLANT SHAFT BROKE IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE FIRST ONE. ADDITIONALLY, DUE TO A MIX-UP, THE SCRUB NURSE MISTAKENLY HANDED THE 9MM TAMP INSTEAD OF THE CORRECT 11MM TAMP. THIS RESULTED IN ONE OF THE SIDE TEETH (9MM TAMP) BREAKING OFF. THE BROKEN METAL FRAGMENT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE CAGE AND THE VERTEBRAL BODY. THE SURGEON DECIDED TO LEAVE IT IN.
ON OCTOBER 30TH, I WAS SUPPORTING A SPINAL SURGERY CASE AT (B)(6). THE SURGEON PERFORMED A THREE-LEVEL SPONDYLOLISTHESIS PROCEDURE AND PLANNED TO USE FORZA TI CAGES AT TWO LEVELS. NORMALLY, THE CLINIC USES FORZA PTC CAGES, BUT DUE TO LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN CERTAIN SIZES, WE DECIDED TO USE THE FORZA TI FOR THIS CASE. DURING THE PROCEDURE, THE SCRUB NURSE ATTACHED A FORZA TI CAGE TO THE 11MM CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT. WHEN THE SURGEON BEGAN INSERTING THE IMPLANT WITH THE MALLET, THE CAGE BECAME LOOSE. UPON REMOVAL, WE OBSERVED THAT PART OF THE SIDE TEETH OF THE CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT HAD BROKEN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE THREADED INSERT FRACTURED, AND A FRAGMENT REMAINED LODGED INSIDE THE CAGE WHICH MADE IT UNUSABLE. THE SURGEON HAD TO LOCATE AND RETRIEVE THE MISSING METAL FRAGMENTS FROM INSIDE THE PATIENT, WHICH FORTUNATELY WERE ALL FOUND. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE SURGEON ATTEMPTED INSERTION AGAIN USING THE OTHER 11MM CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT AND A NEW CAGE OF THE SAME SIZE. ALTHOUGH THE CAGE ATTACHED PROPERLY, THE SECOND IMPLANT SHAFT BROKE IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE FIRST ONE. ADDITIONALLY, DUE TO A MIX-UP, THE SCRUB NURSE MISTAKENLY HANDED THE 9MM TAMP INSTEAD OF THE CORRECT 11MM TAMP. THIS RESULTED IN ONE OF THE SIDE TEETH (9MM TAMP) BREAKING OFF. THE BROKEN METAL FRAGMENT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE CAGE AND THE VERTEBRAL BODY. THE SURGEON DECIDED TO LEAVE IT IN.
Devices
| Seq | Brand | Generic | Product Code | Manufacturer | Model | Lot | UDI-DI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84154 | FORZA | 9MM MONOLITHIC TAMP | LXH | ORTHOFIX US LLC | 89-0153 | 38671-PA07 | 18257200077076 |
Patients
| Seq | Age | Sex | Outcome | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NA | Unknown | Other | 38-3910SP 11W X 31L X 10H, 8° CURVED, STERILE| 38-3910SP 11W X 31L X 10H, 8° CURVED, STERILE| 89-0119 11MM CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT ASSEMBLY| 89-0119 11MM CURVED IMPLANT SHAFT ASSEMBLY| 89-0120 THREADED INSERT |