Use caution Medical device recall · FDA · Published March 13, 2018

Medtronic Prestige LP Cervical Disc System Drill Guides May Break During Surgery

Medtronic recalls cervical disc surgery instruments with drill guides that may break during use, causing potential complications. Affected models include REF 6975205, 6975206, and 6975207 with specific lot numbers.

Plain-English summary generated from official FDA data by GovInfoNow · Published by Carlos Caban · How we make summaries

🇺🇸 FDA recall #Z-1641-2018Medical device Medtronic ›

Use caution until it’s fixed

The firm received complaints of drill bits breaking during use with the Prestige LP(TM) Cervical Disc System. Subsequent investigation demonstrated the interaction of the drill guide and the drill bit may lead to drill bit breakage.

Take action

Contact the company

Recalling firmMedtronic Sofamor Danek USA Inc1800 Pyramid Pl · Memphis, TN 38132-1703

✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer

Medtronic is recalling cervical disc surgery instruments with drill guides that can break during use. This breakage risk could lead to complications during spinal surgery procedures. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/71726-medtronic-prestige-lp-cervical-disc-system-drill-guides-may-break.

Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/71726-medtronic-prestige-lp-cervical-disc-system-drill-guides-may-break · Updated August 27, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #Z-1641-2018

Cite this page

“Medtronic Prestige LP Cervical Disc System Drill Guides May Break During Surgery.” GovInfoNow, updated August 27, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/71726-medtronic-prestige-lp-cervical-disc-system-drill-guides-may-break. Based on FDA recall #Z-1641-2018 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-1641-2018%22&limit=1).

The FDA announced on March 13, 2018, that Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA Inc is recalling specific Prestige LP Cervical Disc System drill guides due to the risk of drill bit breakage during use. The agency classified this as a Class II recall.

How to tell if you have it

Brand: Medtronic
Product: Medtronic Prestige LP(TM) Cervical Disc System with Streamlined Instruments, DRILL GUIDES
REF 6975205, 5mm; UDI 00643169752979 Lot Number ID17K018
REF 6975206, 6mm; UDI 00643169752962 Lot Number ID17J009
REF 6975207, 7mm; UDI 00643169752955 Lot Numbers: ID17K007, ID17L035

The hazard

Context

GovInfoNow's records show Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA Inc has 19 other recalls on record since 2017-12-06. Other recent recalls of similar products include Medtronic 6069073 (2025-09-16), Grafton DMB Matrix for Tyvek Pouch Inspection Issue (2023-09-26), and Magnifuse Bone Graft Recall: Incorrect Labeling Risk (2023-07-31). Other recent recalls of similar products include Surgify Halo 5.4mm Medium Drills Risk of Burr Breakage During Spinal Surgery (2026-04-30), Surgify Halo 5.4mm Drill Risk: Burr Breakage During Spinal Surgery (2026-04-30), and Surgify Halo 5.4mm Extendable Drills Risk of Burr Breakage During Spinal Surgery (2026-04-30).

How to tell if you have this one

Check for the drill guide model numbers REF 6975205 (5mm), REF 6975206 (6mm), or REF 6975207 (7mm). The lot numbers include ID17K018, ID17J009, and ID17K007, ID17L035.

Brand
Medtronic
Category
Medical device

Based on the official FDA remedy

What to do — step by step

Check Instrument Model
Identify the drill guide model number (REF 6975205, 6975206, or 6975207) and lot number from the product packaging.
Contact Medtronic
Reach out to Medtronic customer support for guidance on whether your instruments are affected and next steps.

Where it went and when

Where it was distributed

Distributed nationwide.

FDA distribution: “US Nationwide Distribution” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.

Distributed nationwide.

Recall timeline

FDA terminated this recall 2.6 years after the firm started it.

Mar 13, 2018Firm started the recall
May 4, 2018FDA classified it Class II
May 16, 2018Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
Nov 2, 2020FDA terminated the recall

Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.

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Link to this recall

<a href="https://govinfonow.com/recall/71726-medtronic-prestige-lp-cervical-disc-system-drill-guides-may-break">Medtronic Prestige LP Cervical Disc System Drill Guides May Break During Surgery (GovInfoNow)</a>

Where this comes from

The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.

Official source: FDA Recall #Z-1641-2018 (March 13, 2018) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-1641-2018 to see it in context.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 27, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.