Hazard

Surgical Error recalls

58 recalls in our database tag this hazard, drawn from FDA, USDA FSIS, CPSC, and NHTSA source notices.

What the numbers show

Total: 58
Critical: 0
Severe: 3
Most recent: 2025-04-30

Of the 58 surgical error recalls we have scored against our rubric, 0 (0%) are Critical — deaths or serious injuries reported, or the agency’s own highest classification — and 3 (5%) are Severe.

About this hazard tag

Hazard tags are short, machine-readable labels we attach to every recall to make cross-cutting queries possible — “all surgical error recalls regardless of agency”, “all listeria recalls in California”, “all airbag recalls in 2025”. The tags are extracted from each recall’s source text during the LLM rewrite step and validated against a fixed schema.

A recall can carry multiple tags — a Listeria recall might also be tagged ready-to-eat and undeclared-allergen. Use the full-text search if you want to combine hazard tags with brand or category filters.

51–58 of 58

HighFDA (Devices)·Z-1210-2013·2013-05-08
Stryker AxSOS Drill Bit Recalled Due to Incorrect Scale
Stryker Orthopaedics is recalling AxSOS Calibrated Drill Bits because an incorrect scale may cause surgeons to select screws that are 10mm longer than intended.
Product
Stryker Howmedica Osteonics Corp. AxSOS System Instrument. The AxSOS Locking Plate System is designed to treat periarticular or intraarticular fractures of the Distal Femur, Proximal Humerus, Proximal Tibia, and the Distal Tibia. Per the operative technique, " A 4.3 mm Drill
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
Distributed nationwide
SevereFDA (Devices)·Z-1052-2013·2013-04-24
Stryker Recalls ShapeMatch Cutting Guides Due to Internal Process Issues
Stryker Orthopaedics is recalling ShapeMatch Cutting Guides used in knee surgeries due to potential issues with internal planning and production processes.
Product
ShapeMatch Cutting Guides Product Usage: The ShapeMatch Cutting Guides are intended to be used as patient-specific surgical instrumentation to assist in the positioning of total knee arthroplasty components intraoperatively and in guiding the marking of bone before cutting.
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
Distributed nationwide
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-0952-2013·2013-03-27
Extremity Medical Recalls Undersized 1.6 mm Orthopedic Guidewires
Extremity Medical LLC is recalling 238 non-sterile 1.6 mm guidewires because they are undersized, causing depth gauge readings to select screws approximately 2 mm longer than intended.
Product
Extremity Medical - Disposable Orthopedic Surgical Instrument - 1.6 mm Guidewire - Reference Number 101-00006 - Non-Sterile. Contained in Extremity Medical Surgical Kits including CompressX, Hallu.X, IO Fix and XMCP. Used in the selection of screw size when used with appropriat
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
14 states
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-0441-2013·2012-12-05
Medtronic Recalls Vertex Max Drill Tubes Due to Threading Defect
Medtronic is recalling 12 Vertex Max Drill Tubes due to a defect in the internal threading used for component setup.
Product
The Vertex Max Drill Tube is a component within the Navigated Vertex Max Drill Guide Set (item 9733370). The Navigated Vertex Max Drill Guide Set is intended to be used with a Medtronic Computer Assisted Surgery System to help assist with screw placement during spine surgical pr
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
Distributed nationwide
ModerateFDA (Devices)·Z-0397-2013·2012-11-28
Zimmer Recalls Slotted Provisional Femoral Heads for Surgical Technique Updates
Zimmer, Inc. is recalling MIS 12/14 Slotted Provisional Femoral Heads to update surgical instructions regarding the visual location of displaced heads.
Product
00780302801 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional -3.5X28 00780302802 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional +0X28 00780302803 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional +3.5X28 00780302804 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional +7X28 00780302805 MIS 12/14 Slotte
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
Distributed nationwide
ModerateFDA (Devices)·Z-0396-2013·2012-11-28
Zimmer Recalls Provisional Femoral Heads for Enhanced Surgical Instructions
Zimmer, Inc. is recalling 56,516 provisional femoral heads to update surgical instructions regarding the visual location of displaced heads.
Product
00780302601 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional -3.5X26 00780302602 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional +0X26 00780302603 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional +3.5X26 00780302604 MIS 12/14 Slotted Femoral Head Provisional +7X26 00780302605 MIS 12/14 Slotte
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
Distributed nationwide
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-0038-2013·2012-10-17
Medtronic Premier Anterior Cervical Plate Screw Block Recall
Medtronic is recalling 247 units of the Premier Anterior Cervical Plate System Screw Block because gauge lines may be misaligned, potentially causing screws to be measured as 1 mm shorter than their actual length.
Product
PREMIER(R) Anterior Cervical Plate System SCREW BLOCK, REF 1860503, QTY: 1 EA, Rx only, Medtronic Sofamore Danek USA, Inc., 1800 Pyramid Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38132. Orthopedic. This instrument is a precision device which may incorporate a measuring function and has uses
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
Distributed nationwide
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-2220-2012·2012-08-29
DePuy Altralinked Polyethylene Liners Recalled for Incorrect Size Labeling
DePuy Orthopaedics is recalling 20 Altralinked polyethylene liners because a size 52 liner was incorrectly labeled as size 54.
Product
Altrx" Altralinked" Polyethylene liners Description: An acetabular liner is one of the implants used during total hip arthroplasty to replace the damaged hip joint to help increase patient mobility and to reduce pain. Packaging: Product is placed into a PETG tray, sealed with
Category
Medical Device
Distribution
1 state