Recall Register

Food, drugs, devices › Synthes USA HQ, Inc.

Device recall: Synthes Soft Tissue Retractor Small Extendible. Offset blade facilitates easy preparation of the epipereosteal cavity fo

FDA enforcement event 66530 · Class II · initiated 1 Aug 2013 · status Terminated · terminated 16 Apr 2015

DeviceVoluntary: Firm initiated1 product recordWest Chester, PA

FDA enforcement event 66530 is a device recall by Synthes USA HQ, Inc. of West Chester, PA, initiated 1 Aug 2013 and classified Class II, with 1 product record.

FDA defines Class II as a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. 90% of the 1,236 device enforcement events initiated in 2013 carry the same class.

Status: Terminated, terminated 16 Apr 2015. Initiation: voluntary: firm initiated. Synthes USA HQ, Inc. has 51 enforcement events on this register, with a median of 1 product record per event.

Recall classification reflects the relative degree of health hazard. Text in quotation marks is FDA's. openFDA export dated 28 Sep 2026.

Recalling firm

Synthes USA HQ, Inc., West Chester, PA.

Reason for recall

"The small extendible Soft Tissue Retractor was recalled due to locking nut (clamping sleeve) malfunction."

Distribution

"Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) and Internationally to Canada and Mexico."

Product records

Recall numberProductQuantityClassStatusReport date
Z-0429-2014Synthes Soft Tissue Retractor Small Extendible. Offset blade facilitates easy preparation of the epipereosteal cavity for percutaneous plate insertion.374Class IITerminated11 Dec 2013

Context

90%of 2013 device events are Class II1,236 events that year
1product record in this eventfirm median: 1
51events on this register for the firm

Other enforcement events for Synthes USA HQ, Inc.

InitiatedProduct (first record)TypeClassRecords
15 Oct 2013Synthes Material Mix (Adjustable Cervical Distractor-Right, Matrix Distractor Rack, T-PAL Spacer Remover, Implant InsertDeviceClass II1
9 Oct 2013Synthes TomoFix Plates The Synthes J5606-C TomoFix Osteotomy System is used for open and closed wedge osteotomies of theDeviceClass II1
8 Oct 2013Synthes Implant Holder for Synfix (TM)-LR the Synthes Implant Holder for Synfix (TM)-LR is a non-powered hand-held devicDeviceClass II1
3 Oct 2013Synthes Spiked Washers 13.5/6.5 Spiked Washers 13.5/6.5 are intended to be used in ligament reattachment or fixation, spDeviceClass II1
3 Oct 2013Synthes 8.5 MM Medullary Reamer Product Usage: An orthopedic manual surgical instrument is a nonpowered hand-held deviceDeviceClass II1
3 Oct 2013Synthes Titanium Trochanteric Fixation Nail (TFN)-Helical Blade Synthes Titanium Trochanteric Fixation Nail (TFN)-HelicaDeviceClass II1
30 Sep 2013Synthes Zero-P VA Implant 7 MM Height Parallel Sterile The Synthes Zero-P VA Implant 7 MM Height Parallel Sterile is a sDeviceClass II1
24 Sep 2013Synthes Soft Tissue Retractor Small Extendible Offset blade facilitates easy preparation of the epipereosteal cavity forDeviceClass II1
13 Aug 2013Synthes Application Instrument Sternal Zip Flex System intended for use in primary or secondary closure/repair of the stDeviceClass II1
31 Jul 2013Large Buttress Compression Nut For Blade Guide Sleeve TFN The Synthes Large Buttress Compression Nut For Blade Guide SleDeviceClass II1

All 51 events for Synthes USA HQ, Inc.

Questions and answers

Why was this device recalled?

FDA's record gives the reason for recall as: "The small extendible Soft Tissue Retractor was recalled due to locking nut (clamping sleeve) malfunction."

What does Class II mean?

FDA classifies recalls by relative degree of health hazard. Class II is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

Where was the product distributed?

FDA's distribution pattern field reads: "Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) and Internationally to Canada and Mexico."

Is the recall still ongoing?

FDA lists the status as Terminated; the termination date is 16 Apr 2015. "Terminated" means FDA has determined that all reasonable efforts to remove or correct the product have been made.

Where does this data come from?

openFDA enforcement reports (food, drug and device), CC0, export dated 28 Sep 2026. Text in quotation marks is FDA's. The FDA enforcement report linked above is authoritative.

Provenance

Source: openFDA device enforcement reports (CC0), export dated 28 Sep 2026; records grouped by FDA event number. The class shown for the event is the most severe class among its records. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.