Metasul Head 40, 12/14, SZ M/0 total hip prosthesis - metal femoral heads Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease (NIDJD) including avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis and congenital hip dysplasia and inflammatory joint disease (IJD) e.g. rheumatoid arthritis if bone quality is adequate. Failed previous surgery where pain, deformity, or dysfunction persists. Revision of previously failed hip arthroplasty. Total hip replacements may be considered for younger patients

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-0850-2016) was formally reported on March 2, 2016, with the manufacturer initiating the action on January 11, 2016. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Terminated. Zimmer Biomet, Inc. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Warsaw, IN. Federal records indicate 194 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: LDPE bag containing the implant adheres to the highly polished implant surface. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide Distribution - US (nationwide) and Internationally to ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BARBADOS BELGIUM BERMUDA BOLIVIA BRAZIL CARIBBEAN CHILE CHINA COLOMBIA COST RICA DENMARK DOMINICAN…. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by FDA Devices. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 10 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.