Vanguard Complete Knee System recallZ-2289-2018 · Zimmer Biomet, Inc. · initiated May 24, 2018
Class II Terminated All recalls posted in June 2018
Is my device affected?
- Compare the model, catalog and lot or serial numbers on your device or its packaging with the code information below. A recall usually covers only specific models or lots.
- If yours is listed, follow the instructions from Zimmer Biomet, Inc. or your healthcare provider. The company's action is summarized under what the company is doing.
- Do not stop using a prescribed or implanted device on your own — talk to your healthcare provider first.
Where to find your model and lot numbers · What recall classes and statuses mean
Why it was recalled
Two lots of tibial bearings were commingled. There is a possibility that a 14mm tibial bearing is packaged in a box labeled as 12 mm tibial bearing and vice versa. This may lead to extension of surgery to find another implant.
FDA root cause category: Under Investigation by firm
What the company is doing
On May 24, 2018, Zimmer Biomet issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall letter to its affected consignees via email and FedEx. The letter informed customers of the product commingling issue. Customers were instructed to take the following actions: Distributors: 1. Review this notification and ensure that affected team members are aware of the contents. 2. Immediately locate and quarantine affected product in your inventory. 3. Immediately return all affected product from your distributorship and from affected hospitals within your territory. a. Complete Attachment 1 Inventory Return Certification Form and send to [email protected] within three (3) days. b. For each return, send a copy of Attachment 1 to [email protected]. c. Include a hardcopy of Attachment 1 in each carton of your return shipment for immediate processing. d. Mark RECALL on the outside of the returned cartons. 4. Return the Additional Accounts form to [email protected]. a. Review the list of hospitals included with the email notification sent to your facility, which includes a list of hospitals that have already been notified of this recall. b. Identify whether there are any additional hospitals that Zimmer Biomet has not notified and list these accounts on the Additional Accounts form. Please provide the form in Excel format. c. If there are no additional accounts to notify, please indicate that there are no additional accounts, or indicate None or NA on the form. Risk Managers: 1. Review this notification and ensure that affected personnel are aware of the contents. 2. If you have affected product at your facility, assist your Zimmer Biomet sales representative and quarantine all affected product. Your Zimmer Biomet sales representative will remove the affected product from your facility. 3. Complete Attachment 1 Certificate of Acknowledgement and send to CorporateQuality.Po
Recall details
- Recall number
- Z-2289-2018
- Recall class
- Class II
- Status
- Terminated
- Initiated by the company
- May 24, 2018
- Posted by the FDA
- Jun 4, 2018
- Recalling firm
- Zimmer Biomet, Inc.
- Quantity
- 48
- Product code
- JWH
- FDA submissions
- K113550, K171054
- Distribution
- Distributed to accounts in CA, CT, GA, IA, IN, LA, MA, MD, MN, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI. Foreign distribution to Taiwan, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Product description
Vanguard Complete Knee System; E1 Vanguard PS Tibial Bearing; Model Numbers EP-183664, EP-183642 Product Usage: The product is intended for use in knee joint replacement arthroplasties.
Code information (models, lots, serial numbers)
Lots 198810 and 210320
Other devices under the same FDA submission
231 devices cleared under K113550, K171054 — the recall does not name any of them by identifier. One submission often covers many models, so they may or may not be affected.
- VANGUARD KNEE SYSTEM 184764Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER2 recalls5 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183108Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER2 recalls3 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183126Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER2 recalls3 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 189082Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER2 recalls2 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183620Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall5 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183106Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall4 reports
- BIOMET KNEE SYSTEM 141215Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · Prosthesis, knee, patello/femorotibial, semi-constrained, uhmwpe, pegged, cemented, polymer/metal/polymer1 recall3 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183104Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall3 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183122Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall3 reports
- VANGUARD KNEE SYSTEM 184762Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall3 reports
- VANGUARD KNEE SYSTEM 184766Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall3 reports
- Vanguard® Knee System 183124Biomet Orthopedics, LLC · PROSTHESIS, KNEE, PATELLOFEMOROTIBIAL, SEMI-CONSTRAINED, CEMENTED, POLYMER/METAL/POLYMER1 recall2 reports
Sources and updates
- Recall record: FDA Medical Device Recalls, file dated Oct 16, 2026 · View the FDA recall notice ↗
- Devices: FDA GUDID, file dated Oct 13, 2026. Devices are linked when their identifier (with a valid check digit) appears in the recall's code information.
- Page last rebuilt: Oct 18, 2026. Text above is shown as published by the FDA.
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