Food, drugs, devices › Zimmer Biomet, Inc.
Device recall: Polaris 5.5 Spinal System and Polaris 5.5/Cypher Spinal System, Thoracolumbosacral pedicle screw system
Zimmer Biomet, Inc. (Warsaw, IN) initiated this device recall on 17 Nov 2020; FDA lists 1 product record under event 86762, classified Class II.
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. 93% of the 916 device enforcement events initiated in 2020 carry the same class.
Status: Terminated, terminated 27 Jul 2021. Initiation: voluntary: firm initiated. Zimmer Biomet, Inc. has 144 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
Zimmer Biomet, Inc., Warsaw, IN.
Reason for recall
"Zimmer Biomet is conducting a medical device correction to update the Instructions for Use (IFU) and the Surgical Techniques for the Polaris Spinal System Translation Screw and Cypher MIS Screw System. Users should be aware that changes were made to the contraindications section indicating that the Translation Screws should not be used with a direct current stimulation, as a high probability of…"
Distribution
"Domestic distribution nationwide. As direct stimulation devices are only available in the US, this contraindication does not apply to international customers."
Product records
| Recall number | Product | Quantity | Class | Status | Report date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z-0570-2021 | Polaris 5.5 Spinal System and Polaris 5.5/Cypher Spinal System, Thoracolumbosacral pedicle screw system | 57,715 units | Class II | Terminated | 23 Dec 2020 |
Context
Other enforcement events for Zimmer Biomet, Inc.
All 144 events for Zimmer Biomet, Inc.
Questions and answers
Why was this device recalled?
FDA's record gives the reason for recall as: "Zimmer Biomet is conducting a medical device correction to update the Instructions for Use (IFU) and the Surgical Techniques for the Polaris Spinal System Translation Screw and Cypher MIS Screw System. Users should be aware that changes were made to the contraindications section indicating that the Translation Screws should not be used with a direct current stimulation, as a high probability of…"
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: "Domestic distribution nationwide. As direct stimulation devices are only available in the US, this contraindication does not apply to international customers."
Is the recall still ongoing?
FDA lists the status as Terminated; the termination date is 27 Jul 2021. "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.