Malleable C- Retractor
Medical device recall Z-0973-2015. Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report on Jan 21, 2015.
No Watch here, and no alerts: openFDA asks that its enforcement data “should not be used as a method to collect data to issue alerts to the public, nor should it be used to track the lifecycle of a recall” (openFDA). For FDA’s own recall emails, subscribe at FDA. FDA’s own record is on accessdata.fda.gov.
The short answer
Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report on Jan 21, 2015. Copied from openFDA on Oct 20, 2026.
- Class II FDA’s class
- Terminated its status, in FDA’s file
- Nationwide FDA’s word for where it went
- 1762 how much, in FDA’s words
Every line below is in FDA’s own words, with its source beside it. FDA’s terms are explained in FDA’s own words.
How serious is it, by FDA’s class?
Class II, the middle of FDA’s three classes.
“Products that might cause a temporary health problem, or pose only a slight threat of a serious nature. Example: a drug that is under-strength but that is not used to treat life-threatening situations.”
openFDA, in plain words, its enforcement report fields.
“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.”
FDA’s rule, 21 CFR 7.3(m)(2), eCFR.
What these words mean is quoted from openFDA’s field reference and 21 CFR 7.3.
What’s wrong with it?
Potential failure and/or corrosion of the internal spring of the retractor, which may have been manufactured from an incorrect material. Surgical delay may occur. Spring particles could transfer from the instrument to the patient, and may lead to an adverse tissue reaction and/or infection.
FDA, Device recall enforcement reports. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated weekly.
Which ones are recalled?
Malleable C- Retractor, Part Number 397.232, used to provide retraction of the soft tissues during use of trocar instrumentation. Used in the following systems: the Basic Trocar System, Universal Trocar System, Craniofacial Modular Fixation System, Craniofacial (CMF) Distraction System, MatrixORTHOGNATHIC Plating System, and the Matrix MANDIBLE Plating System.
1762, in FDA’s words.
FDA, Device recall enforcement reports. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated weekly.
Codes to check against yours
Part Number 397.232, Lot Numbers 1698700 4688882 4868698 5129449 5345722 6009689 6235842 6407718 1702300 4688883 4916060 5129450 5356127 6021041 6241331 6407719 1715800 4772507 4916061 5129453 5382066 6023019 6258401 6446480 175220 4772508…
Every code shown here, 655 characters
Part Number 397.232, Lot Numbers 1698700 4688882 4868698 5129449 5345722 6009689 6235842 6407718 1702300 4688883 4916060 5129450 5356127 6021041 6241331 6407719 1715800 4772507 4916061 5129453 5382066 6023019 6258401 6446480 175220 4772508 4916062 5247085 5422622 6023020 6258402 6446481 1685602 4814278 4991953 5247087 5664372 6040195 6300954 6452871 1695100 4814280 4991962 5263641 5664373 6040196 6321761 6452872 1695101 4814281 4992455 5267067 5685461 6056610 6345256 6623687 1706600 4868678 5032047 5267068 5820702 6097962 6345257 6633304 1776300 4868685 5080386 5287150 5839165 6181398 6355110 1798900 4868691 5080387 5287152 5855648 6212655 6407717
Copied exactly as FDA lists them: lot and serial numbers, dates and other codes on the product or its label.
Where did it go?
FDA’s words for the “general area of initial distribution”: where the firm first shipped it.
Worldwide Distribution: US (nationwide) and internationally to Canada.
These words name no state.
What FDA means by nationwide
“The term “nationwide” is defined to mean the fifty states or a significant portion. Note that subsequent distribution by the consignees to other parties may not be included.”
openFDA, its enforcement report fields.
The words say it went outside the United States too.
What these words mean is quoted from openFDA’s field reference and 21 CFR 7.3.
Is it still going on?
Terminated, in FDA’s file.
“FDA has determined that all reasonable efforts have been made to remove or correct the violative product in accordance with the recall strategy, and proper disposition has been made according to the degree of hazard.”
openFDA, on “Terminated”, its enforcement report fields.
What these words mean is quoted from openFDA’s field reference and 21 CFR 7.3.
- The firm began the recall on Dec 15, 2014.
- FDA classified it on Jan 14, 2015.
- FDA’s Enforcement Report published it on Jan 21, 2015.
- FDA terminated it on Aug 18, 2016.
FDA, Device recall enforcement reports. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated weekly.
Who is recalling it?
- Synthes, Inc., of West Chester, PA.
- Who began it, in FDA’s words: Voluntary: Firm initiated.
- How the firm first told its customers: Letter.
FDA, Device recall enforcement reports. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated weekly.
What this record can’t tell you
- Whether your own one is affected: compare the codes, dates and numbers above with yours. When unsure, ask the firm or the store.
- Where it went after the firm’s first shipments. FDA’s words cover the firm’s initial distribution, and, in FDA’s words, “subsequent distribution by the consignees to other parties may not be included.”
- How many have been returned, corrected or destroyed: FDA’s report doesn’t say.
- Whether anyone was hurt or fell ill: the report doesn’t say.
- How current it is: openFDA publishes FDA’s Enforcement Report weekly, after FDA does, and a firm can announce a recall weeks before it appears there. openFDA’s own caution: “This data should not be used as a method to collect data to issue alerts to the public, nor should it be used to track the lifecycle of a recall.”
- A product with no recall here isn’t safe by that: FDA’s report lists the recalls FDA classified, and when.
Hearth Record wrote these lines; the quotations are FDA’s.
Sources
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Device recall enforcement reports.
Released Oct 14, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated weekly. Public domain (CC0 1.0, openFDA). FDA asks that nothing suggest it endorses this site.
Recalls of food, medicines, medical devices, pet food and animal drugs are from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA does not endorse Hearth Record. openFDA: “Do not rely on openFDA to make decisions regarding medical care.” Copied on Oct 20, 2026.