FACT SHEET: AAOS Launches Device Recall Dashboard

ROSEMONT, Ill. (September 6, 2022)—When a medical device fails to function as originally intended it can jeopardize patient safety and confidence. One important role of the FDA is to continue monitoring devices after approval to mitigate the detrimental effects of these unforeseen problems. Orthopaedics constitute the single largest specialty of medical devices in healthcare, and account for approximately 20% of all recalls issued by the FDA.

According to Jonathan R. Dubin, MD, FAAOS, orthopaedic trauma surgeon and member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Committee on Devices, Biologics and Technology, it is important that physicians engage in the device safety and recall process. At the most basic level, he notes that it is incumbent upon the surgeon to discuss any clinically relevant recalls with the patients in whom they implanted the flawed device once they become aware of the defect.

AAOS members now have the ability to go a step further by reporting concerns they see in their practice regarding medical devices. The AAOS Device Recall Dashboard is a new surveillance and patient safety tool for physicians and research investigators. The online database is a collective effort between the AAOS Committee on Device, Biologics, and Technology and the AAOS Patient Safety Committee.

To learn more about the AAOS Device Recall Dashboard, email media@aaos.org.