Ethicon Coated VICRYL RAPIDETM Suture Recall: Suture Damage Risk
Ethicon recalls specific lots of Coated VICRYL RAPIDETM (Polyglactin 910) Suture due to identified suture damage and failed knot tensile strength testing.
Lower-risk recall
On August 17, 2017, Ethicon had decided to initiate a medical device recall (removal) of the twenty-five (25) lots of VICRYL RAPIDETM (Polyglactin 910) Suture that were distributed to the field. During finished goods testing, a suture damage was identified on a lot of VICRYL RAPIDETM Suture. During the course of the subsequent investigation, the suture also failed knot tensile strength testing.
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What happened, in plain English
Ethicon is recalling specific lots of Coated VICRYL RAPIDETM (Polyglactin 910) Suture because testing found damage and failed knot strength. This could lead to improper wound closure during surgery. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/73137-ethicon-coated-vicryl-rapidetm-suture-recall-suture-damage-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/73137-ethicon-coated-vicryl-rapidetm-suture-recall-suture-damage-risk · Updated September 18, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #Z-0693-2018
Cite this page
“Ethicon Coated VICRYL RAPIDETM Suture Recall: Suture Damage Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated September 18, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/73137-ethicon-coated-vicryl-rapidetm-suture-recall-suture-damage-risk. Based on FDA recall #Z-0693-2018 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-0693-2018%22&limit=1).
Why it’s dangerous
During testing, the suture showed damage and failed knot tensile strength tests. This means the suture might not hold properly during surgery, potentially causing wound complications.
Who’s affected
Surgical professionals and patients who received the recalled suture lots. The risk is low as the issue was identified during testing before distribution.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for the specific product codes listed in the recall notice, such as VR2217, VR2253, or W9941. The suture comes in different sizes and lengths with specific needle types.
- Brand
Ethicon- Category
Medical device
What to do — step by step
Check Product Details
Look for the product codes (e.g., VR2217, VR2253) on the suture packaging to confirm if it's in the recalled lots.
Where it went and when
Where it was distributed
Distributed nationwide.
FDA distribution: “Nationally” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.
Distributed nationwide.
Recall timeline
FDA terminated this recall 21 months after the firm started it.
- Firm started the recall
- FDA classified it Class II
- Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
- FDA terminated the recall
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Questions people ask
Do I need to stop using this suture?
The recall does not require immediate stop use; the issue was identified before distribution, so the risk is low.
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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-0693-2018 (August 17, 2017) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-0693-2018 to see it in context.
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on September 18, 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.