IllicoRecalls & reported problems across all models
Alphatec Spine, Inc. · 20 models in the FDA device registry
Data updated Oct 16, 2026 from official FDA records · Editorial policy
- Adverse event reports
- 69
- Deaths reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 21
- Recalls
- 0
We found 20 models of Illico by Alphatec Spine, Inc. in the FDA's device registry (GUDID). Together they are named in 69 adverse event reports in the FDA's MAUDE database, received between Feb 23, 2016 and Apr 17, 2024 — classified as 21 injuries, 48 malfunctions.
The most frequently reported specific device problem is “Break” (58 reports).
Reports come from manufacturers, hospitals and patients and are not verified by the FDA. A report does not prove the device caused the event. Widely used products collect more reports, so totals can't be used to compare products or estimate failure rates. Only reports that name a model's exact device identifier are counted. What reports can and can't tell you · How this data works
Reports received per month, all models
Most reported Illico problems
Device problems
- Break58
- Fracture8
- Detachment of Device or Device Component5
- Entrapment of Device4
- Difficult to Remove2
- Patient-Device Incompatibility2
- Physical Property Issue2
- Appropriate Device Problem Term/Code Not Available1
Patient problems
- No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient39
- No Information12
- Foreign Body In Patient4
- Pain4
- Device Embedded In Tissue or Plaque2
- Failure of Implant2
- No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions2
- No Code Available2
Illico models
20 models, most reported first. Each model has its own page with its reports, recalls and device details.
- Illico 73772Guide, surgical, instrument34 reports
- Illico 73724Guide, surgical, instrument13 reports
- Illico 73779Guide, surgical, instrument2 reports
- Illico 73875-40Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease2 reports
- Illico 73715TAP, BONE2 reports
- Illico 73770-18-2ORTHOPEDIC MANUAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT2 reports
- Illico 73753ORTHOPEDIC MANUAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT1 report
- Illico 73734ORTHOPEDIC MANUAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT1 report
- Illico 73845-40Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73865-35Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73865-40Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73865-45Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73965-50Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73875-50Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73600-040Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73600-045Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73600-050Orthosis, spinal pedicle fixation, for degenerative disc disease1 report
- Illico 73711AWL1 report
- Illico 73746PROBE1 report
- Illico 73770-20-2ORTHOPEDIC MANUAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT1 report
Recent Illico adverse event reports
The 15 most recent reports across all models, in the reporter's own words as published by the FDA.
MalfunctionApr 17, 2024Break; Break
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE SCREW EXTENDER WAS FOUND BROKEN AFTER A WASH CYCLE. NO PATIENT WAS INVOLVED.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 19125935 ↗InjurySep 17, 2021Fracture; Mechanical Jam; Appropriate Device Problem Term/Code Not Available
A PATIENT UNDERWENT A POSTERIOR LUMBAR FUSION SURGERY AT L3, L4, AND L5 IN (B)(6) 2017. AN EXTENSION SURGERY TOOK PLACE IN (B)(6) 2019 AT T11-L5 AND IN (B)(6) 2020 AT T11-S2A1 BOTH USING ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS PRODUCT. ON (B)(6) 2021, A REVISION SURGERY WAS CONDUCTED TO REPLACE THE IMPLANT. THE SURGEON USED THE HEAD POSITIONER TO REMOVE THE SCREW BECAUSE THE SCREW HEAD WAS LOCKED. ONCE THE SCREW WAS REMOVED, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE FRACTURED, AND THE TIP REMAINED IN THE PATIENT'S VERTEBRAL BODY. THE SURGEON SUGGESTED THE SCREW SHANK MAY HAVE FRACTURED PRIOR TO THE REVISION SURGERY SINCE THERE WAS NO OVER-LOAD DURING THE REMOVAL PROCESS. THE TIP WILL BE REMOVED DURING A FUTURE REVISION SURGERY. NO PATIENT INJURY REPORTED.
Patient problems: Foreign Body In Patient
MAUDE report 12492615 ↗InjuryJun 17, 2021Break; Entrapment of Device; Material Twisted/Bent
GUIDE WIRE BROKEN DURING THE SURGERY. (B)(6) 2021: DESCRIPTION OF THE SURGERY (L4/5TLIF, L5/6PLIF, L4/5/6PLF). IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRE WAS BENT WHEN REMOVING THE WIRE DURING THE INSTALL OF THE SCREW. MEASURING THE LENGTH OF THE WIRE WHEN REPLACING IT WITH THE NORMAL ITEM, IT PROVED THAT THE CONCERNED WIRE WAS SHORTER BY 5-10MM. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE BROKEN TIP PART REMAINED IN THE PATIENT'S BODY WHEN CHECKING THE CONCERNED LEVEL BY THE IMAGE. THE TIP PART COULD NOT BE REMOVED, THEREFORE REMAINED IN WITH THE SURGEON DECISION. THEN THE SURGERY WAS COMPLETED. REVISION SURGERY IS NOT SCHEDULED.
Patient problems: Device Embedded In Tissue or Plaque
MAUDE report 12021309 ↗InjuryApr 8, 2021Material Fragmentation; Material Fragmentation
CUSTOMER REPORTED THE PATIENT HAD VERY HARD BONE. THE TIP OF THE TAP BROKE WHILE THE SURGEON WAS CREATING A HOLE INTO THE PEDICLE. THE TIP OF THE TAP REMAINED LODGED IN THE BONE.
Patient problems: Insufficient Information
MAUDE report 11634314 ↗InjuryDec 9, 2020Break; Physical Resistance/Sticking
DURING THE SURGERY, THE SURGEON PERFORMED THE REDUCTION OF THE SCREW WITH STRENGTH, BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE REDUCER WHEN REDUCTION OF THE L4 SCREW LEFT SIDE. THEN THE TIP PART (JOINTED PARTS WITH THE SCREW) OF THE REDUCTION EXTENDER WAS BROKEN. AS THE RESULT, IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SCREW DUE TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE INSTRUMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE SCREW, THE REDUCER DID NOT MOVE SMOOTHLY ONCE AGAIN, BUT THE SET SCREW ENGAGED SLIGHTLY AND THE SURGEON CONTINUED THE FIXATION WITHOUT ANY EXTRA REDUCTION. THE SURGERY WAS COMPLETED WITH ONE-HOUR DELAY.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 10977212 ↗MalfunctionOct 8, 2020Break; Detachment of Device or Device Component
AFTER THE FINAL TIGHTENING, THE SURGEON FOUND THAT THE SET SCREW POPPED OFF BY IMAGING. THE SURGEON RETRIEVED THE SET SCREW AND TRIED TO RE-INSTALL IT BUT COULD NOT. THE IMAGES ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE POLYAXIAL SCREW HEAD/TULIP WAS BROKEN.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 10651167 ↗InjuryApr 1, 2020Difficult to Remove; Material Integrity Problem
REVISION SURGERY WAS CONDUCTED (B)(6) 2020 TO EXTEND THE FIXATION FROM L4/5 TO L3-L5 DUE TO ADJACENT SEGMENT DISEASE. WHILE THE SURGEON TRIED TO REMOVE THE IMPLANTS, THE ID OF THE POLYAXIAL SCREW WAS STRIPPED/CRUSHED AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. EVENTUALLY, AFTER A 2 HOUR DELAY AND ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENTATION, THE SURGEON WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE IMPLANTS. THE ILLICO MIS POSTERIOR FIXATION SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY IMPLANTED ON (B)(6) 2015 AT THE L4/5.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9910071 ↗MalfunctionMar 5, 2020Break
LOCKING TAB SNAPPED OFF AFTER ROD WAS FULLY SEATED WITHIN TULIP OF SCREW.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9792719 ↗MalfunctionFeb 20, 2020Detachment of Device or Device Component
ONE OF THE TABS BROKE OFF THE SCREW EXTENDER WHILE REDUCING THE ROD. THE DETACHED SECTION WAS REMOVED FROM THE PATIENT WITHOUT ISSUE AND THE ROD FULLY REDUCED WITH NO FURTHER COMPLICATION. THE EVENT CAUSE NO PATIENT HARM.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9732174 ↗MalfunctionOct 31, 2019Break
ONE OF THE TABS BROKE OFF THE SCREW EXTENDER DURING USE.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9260684 ↗MalfunctionOct 31, 2019Break
ONE OF THE TABS BROKE OFF THE SCREW EXTENDER DURING USE.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9260264 ↗MalfunctionOct 31, 2019Break
ONE TAB BROKE OFF BOTH SCREW EXTENDERS DURING USE.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9260126 ↗MalfunctionOct 7, 2019Break; Detachment of Device or Device Component
ONE TAB BROKE OFF BOTH SCREW EXTENDERS DURING USE.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9163336 ↗MalfunctionSep 24, 2019Break; Failure to Advance
BOTH TABS OF THE SCREW EXTENDER WERE BROKEN DURING THE SURGERY. THE SURGEON HEARD A CLICK WHEN INSERTING THE REDUCER BUT CONTINUED INSERTING THE SET SCREW. THEN DRIVER COULD NOT GO IN DEPTH AND THE SURGEON TRIED EXTENDING THE ITEM OUTWARD, BUT SOMETHING WAS INTERFERING. WHEN REMOVING THE SCREW EXTENDER AFTER FINAL TIGHTENING, THE TABS WERE FOUND BROKEN. ALL BROKEN FRAGMENTS WERE RETRIEVED AND NO RESIDUAL PARTS REMAIN IN THE PATIENT'S BODY.
Patient problems: No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient
MAUDE report 9109654 ↗InjurySep 9, 2019Break; Noise, Audible
THE SURGEON TRIED TO REMOVE THE SCREW EXTENDER FROM THE SCREW USING THE RECOMMENDED REMOVER TOOL, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE THEN ATTEMPTED REMOVAL VIA THE REMOVAL AID TOOL AND HEARD A BREAKING SOUND. HE FOUND THAT THE SCREW HEAD/TULIP HAD BROKEN. REMOVED AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SCREW CAUSED AN HOUR DELAY IN THE CASE.
Patient problems: Failure of Implant
MAUDE report 8974885 ↗
Other Alphatec Spine, Inc. products
- Invictus96 models · 448 reports
- IdentiTi31 models · 68 reports · 1 recall
- ATEC Lateral Navigation Disc Prep Instruments2 models · 0 reports · 2 recalls
- Calibrate44 models · 40 reports · 1 recall
- Arsenal18 models · 86 reports
- AMP5 models · 4 reports · 1 recall
- Insignia34 models · 54 reports
- Trestle Luxe24 models · 38 reports
Sources and updates
- Models: FDA GUDID, file dated Oct 13, 2026. Models are grouped by the brand name the manufacturer registered.
- Adverse event reports: FDA MAUDE, file dated Oct 14, 2026
- Recalls: FDA Medical Device Recalls, file dated Oct 16, 2026
- Page last rebuilt: Oct 16, 2026. Data downloaded through openFDA, which notes it is not validated for clinical or regulatory use.
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