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Suture, Nonabsorbable, Synthetic, Polyethylene

Open-data reference.

FDA MAUDE adverse event data · 1997–2026

What the Data Shows About Suture, Nonabsorbable, Synthetic, Polyethylene

The FDA MAUDE database aggregates 18,497 adverse-event reports for Suture, Nonabsorbable, Synthetic, Polyethylene spanning the period from 1997 through 2026. Of these, 39 are classified as death reports, 5,257 as injury reports, and 13,152 as malfunction reports under FDA adverse-event categorization rules. Report counts do not by themselves indicate a device is unsafe — widely used devices and longer market histories naturally generate larger raw counts, so proportional and comparative reads are more informative than totals alone.

The adverse-event profile breaks down across 5 distinct event types and 14 reported patient-outcome categories, giving a multi-dimensional view that goes beyond a single headline number. A total of 20 distinct product-problem codes appear in the reports, with Failure to Fire topping the list at 3,165 reports. Reports are associated with 10 different manufacturers in the MAUDE record, reflecting both OEMs and repackagers of this device category.

Annual reporting volume is tracked across 29 years of MAUDE data, with the peak single-year volume reaching 3,002 reports — trend shape often reflects changes in device adoption, reporting rules, or FDA enforcement focus rather than underlying device behavior alone. Events are documented across 9 reported care-setting categories (hospital, home, ambulatory surgery center, etc.). All figures reflect the openFDA MAUDE snapshot last refreshed on . This page is informational and is not medical advice — discuss device-safety questions with your healthcare provider.

18,497
Total Reports
39
Death Reports
5,257
Injury Reports
13,152
Malfunctions

Event Types

Malfunction 13,152 (71.1%)
Injury 5,257 (28.4%)
Death 39 (0.2%)
Other 33 (0.2%)
16 (0.1%)

Patient Outcomes

12,794 (66.7%)
Required Intervention 3,261 (17.0%)
Other 2,219 (11.6%)
R 481 (2.5%)
O 208 (1.1%)
Hospitalization 98 (0.5%)
Death 34 (0.2%)
H 28 (0.1%)
Disability 15 (0.1%)
L 12 (0.1%)
S 9 (0.0%)
D 5 (0.0%)
Life Threatening 5 (0.0%)
Congenital Anomaly 3 (0.0%)

Top Product Problems

Failure to Fire 3,165
Break 2,637
Firing Problem 2,019
Device Dislodged or Dislocated 1,464
Adverse Event Without Identified Device or Use Problem 1,377
Material Separation 971
Premature Activation 971
Activation, Positioning or Separation Problem 647
Positioning Failure 570
Detachment of Device or Device Component 562
Physical Resistance/Sticking 516
Failure to Cycle 401
Failure to Advance 213
Device Operates Differently Than Expected 210
Material Twisted/Bent 201
Detachment Of Device Component 180
Appropriate Term/Code Not Available 156
Insufficient Information 152
Material Split, Cut or Torn 146
Unintended Ejection 113

Yearly Trend

97
1997: 1
98
1998: 1
99
1999: 2
00
2000: 1
01
2001: 2
02
2002: 1
04
2004: 8
05
2005: 8
06
2006: 7
07
2007: 15
08
2008: 15
09
2009: 55
10
2010: 79
11
2011: 97
12
2012: 253
13
2013: 210
14
2014: 165
15
2015: 626
16
2016: 688
17
2017: 1,104
18
2018: 1,453
19
2019: 1,251
20
2020: 1,225
21
2021: 1,643
22
2022: 1,419
23
2023: 2,038
24
2024: 2,598
25
2025: 3,002
26
2026: 530

Related Entities for Suture, Nonabsorbable, Synthetic, Polyethylene

Event Locations

11,142 (60.2%)
I 6,859 (37.1%)
HOSPITAL 324 (1.8%)
NO INFORMATION 88 (0.5%)
AMBULATORY SURGICAL FACILITY 36 (0.2%)
OTHER 27 (0.1%)
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FACILITY 19 (0.1%)
CLINIC - WALK IN, OTHER 1 (0.0%)
HOME 1 (0.0%)

Compare SMITH & NEPHEW, INC. vs ETHICON INC. →

Data Source

FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database via the openFDA API. Reports are submitted by manufacturers, healthcare facilities, and patients. Report counts do not indicate a device is unsafe — higher-use devices naturally generate more reports.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FDA MAUDE database. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.