Z-0550-2015Class II

Gardner-Wells traction tongs are skull tongs for traction used to immobilize a patient with a cervical spine...

Name: Z-0550-2015 Gardner-Wells traction tongs are skull tongs for traction used to immobilize a patient with a cervical spine...
Creator: Instrumed International, Inc.
Published: 2014-09-08
License: https://open.fda.gov/license/

Instrumed International Inc dba Avalign German Specialty Instruments / initiated 2014-09-08 / Terminated

FDA source

Instrumed International, Inc. began a recall of Gardner-Wells traction tongs are skull tongs for traction used to immobilize a patient with a cervical spine injury (e.g., fracture or dislocation) and sold... on 2014-09-08. FDA classified it as Class II and gives the reason as "The reason these devices are being withdrawn from the market by Instrumed is that Instrumed did not market these devices prior to September 26, 1976, and therefore, does not meet all FDA requirements to market the...". As of 2026-09-10, the recall status on record is Terminated.

Recall record

Recall number: Z-0550-2015
Classification: Class II
Status: Terminated
Initiated: 2014-09-08
Posted: 2014-12-16
Terminated: 2017-11-29
Recalling firm: Instrumed International Inc dba Avalign German Specialty Instruments
Product: Gardner-Wells traction tongs are skull tongs for traction used to immobilize a patient with a cervical spine injury (e.g., fracture or dislocation) and sold under the Millenium Surgical, Echo Instruments, Adler Instrument, Surgical Direct, Stealth Surgical, CareFusion, and Boss Instruments brand names.
Product code: HAX Tong, Skull For Traction
Reason for recall: The reason these devices are being withdrawn from the market by Instrumed is that Instrumed did not market these devices prior to September 26, 1976, and therefore, does not meet all FDA requirements to market the devices as "Pre-Amendment" devices.
FDA root cause: No Marketing Application
Action: Instrumed sent an URGENT: MEDICAL DEVICE MARKET WITHDRAWAL letters dated October 9, 2014 to all affected customers. The letter included instructions for customers to: 1) examine their inventory to determine if there are any recalled devices; 2) complete and return the enclosed Confirmation Request Form; 3) return the recalled devices; and 4) share the recall information with facility staff. Customers with questions were instructed to contact Instrumed by telephone at 847-908-6119.
Quantity in commerce: 190 Gardner-Wells traction tongs
Distribution: Nationwide Distribution including AZ, CA, FL, IL, KS, MI, NC, OH, PA, TN, TX, and VA.
Product codes and lots: 1) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Millenium Surgical; Millenium Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Millenium Surgical Item Number: 12-661025; Lot Numbers: 040313, 070512. 2) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Echo Instruments; Echo Instruments Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Echo Instruments Item Number: 576-804; Lot Numbers: 050413, 110212. 3) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Millenium Surgical; Millenium Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Millenium Surgical Item Number: 6-1945; Lot Numbers: 030314, 040313, 050413, 110212. 4) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Adler Instrument; Adler Instrument Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Adler Instrument Item Number: ADR1945; Lot Number: 050413. 5) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Surgical Direct; Surgical Direct Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Surgical Direct Item Number: SD5861.100; Lot Number: 050413. 6) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Stealth Surgical; Stealth Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Stealth Surgical Item Number: SS2191; Lot Number: 110212. 7) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; CareFusion Item Number: VM85-1291; Lot Numbers: 030314, 040313, 050413, 050512, 070212, 070512, 110212. 8) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Set; CareFusion Item Number: NL9500; Lot Numbers: 030314, 040313, 050413, 050512, 050514, 060514, 070212, 110212. 9) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Instrumed Product Number: 630-05401; Trade Name: Boss Instruments; Boss Instruments Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Complete; Boss InstrumentsItem Number: 74-0180; Lot Numbers: 030314, 040313, 050413, 070512. 10) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05401; Trade Name: Symmetry Surgical; Symmetry Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Symmetry Surgical Item Number: 57-6804T; Lot Number: 070512. 11) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05401; Trade Name: Millennium Surgical; Millennium Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Millennium Surgical Item Number: 6-1944; Lot Numbers: 060413, 070512, 100211. 12) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05401; Trade Name: Adler Instrument; Adler Instrument Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Adler Instrument Item Number: ADR1944; Lot Number: 110312. 13) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05401; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; CareFusion Item Number: VM85-12915; Lot Numbers: 020411, 050412, 070512, 100211. 14) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05401; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Small Opening 7" (17.8 CM); CareFusion Item Number: NL9510-T; Lot Numbers: 060413, 070512, 100211, 110312. 15) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Small 7" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05401; Trade Name: Boss Instruments; Boss Instruments Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs, Complete; Boss Instruments Item Number: 74-0180T; Lot Numbers: 070512, 110312. 16) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05433; Trade Name: Symmetry Surgical; Symmetry Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs, Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Symmetry Surgical Item Number: 57-6803T; Lot Numbers: 050412, 110312. 17) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05433; Trade Name: Millennium Surgical; Millennium Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs, Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Millennium Surgical Item Number: 6-1944MD; Lot Numbers: 070512, 110312. 18) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05433; Trade Name: Boss Instruments; Boss Instruments Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs, Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Boss Instruments Item Number: 74-0186T; Lot Numbers: 070512, 100112, 100211, 100212. 19) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05433; Trade Name: Stealth Surgical; Stealth Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs, Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Stealth Surgical Item Number: SS2197T; Lot Number: 100112. 20) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05433; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs, Medium 7 1/2" Opening; CareFusion Item Number: VM85-12975; Lot Number: 050412, 100211. 21) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Medium 7 1/2" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05433; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Medium Opening 7-1/2" (19 CM); CareFusion Item Number: NL9511-T; Lot Number: 070512. 22) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Large 8" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05437; Trade Name: Millennium Surgical; Millennium Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Large 8" Opening; Millennium Surgical Item Number: 6-1944LG; Lot Number: 050413. 23) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Large 8" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05437; Trade Name: Boss Instruments; Boss Instruments Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Large 8" Opening; Boss Instruments Item Number: 74-0188T; Lot Numbers: 020512, 040114, 050412, 050413, 070512, 100212. 24) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Large 8" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05437; Trade Name: Stealth Surgical; Stealth Surgical Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Large 8" Opening; Stealth Surgical Item Number: SS2198T; Lot Numbers: 040114, 050413, 070512. 25) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Large 8" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05437; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Large 8" Opening; CareFusion Item Number: VM85-12995; Lot Numbers: 020512, 100212, 120413. 26) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Large 8" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05437; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Large 8" Opening; CareFusion Item Number: VM85-12995; Lot Numbers: 020512, 100212, 120413. 27) Instrumed Product Name: Gardner-Wells Traction Tongs Titanium Large 8" Opening; Instrumed Product Number: 638-05437; Trade Name: CareFusion; CareFusion Product Name: Gardner-Wells Titanium Traction Tongs, Large 8" Opening (20.3 CM); CareFusion Item Number: NL9512-T; Lot Numbers: 020512, 040114, 050412, 050413, 070213, 120413.

Enforcement reports

One row per recalled product line

FDA enforcement reports joined to recall event Z-0550-2015
Recall number	Class	Status	Voluntary or mandated	Report date	Classified
Z-0532-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0533-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0534-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0535-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0536-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0537-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0538-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0539-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0540-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0541-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0542-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0543-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0544-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0545-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0546-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0547-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0548-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0549-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0550-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0551-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0552-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0553-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0554-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0555-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0556-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0557-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0558-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08
Z-0559-2015	Class II	Terminated	Voluntary: Firm initiated	2014-12-17	2014-12-08

Product code HAX

The FDA recall record names no cleared device, and no clearance has been matched to it.

MDM coverage of this record lists here, newest first.

About this record

Sourced from the FDA device recall database and the FDA enforcement reports, both ingested from openFDA. The recall record supplies the product, the reason and the product code; the enforcement report supplies the classification. The two datasets are exported by FDA on different days, and the date above is the older of the two, so nothing on this page is newer than it says.

MDM adds the root cause tag, derived from FDA’s own root cause text, and the cross-links to the product code, the clearances named on the record and MDM coverage. Where a recall has not been joined to an enforcement report, no classification is shown.

Data as of 2026-09-30, the FDA export date for this dataset. Page last changed 2026-09-05. View this recall on fda.gov (opens on fda.gov)