Magec Rods Lawsuit – How to Bring a Claim

MAGEC magnetically controlled growing rods, made by NuVasive and now part of Globus Medical, have drawn FDA recalls and safety warnings. The rods are implanted in children with early-onset scoliosis. Regulators describe end cap separation, mechanical failure and local tissue reactions. The latest action, in April 2025, was a Class 2 recall involving one MAGEC 2 rod. These are regulator and company reports, not court findings. As of October 2026, no MDL or class action names the MAGEC rods. A recall does not by itself show that a product caused harm or that anyone is liable.

Latest Magec Rod Lawsuit Updates

April 3, 2025: Globus Recalls One MAGEC 2 Rod

Globus Medical, which now includes NuVasive, began a recall of one MAGEC 2 rod on April 3, 2025. The rod (MC2-5090S) was assembled with a 5.5mm rod instead of the required 5.0mm. The FDA classified the recall Class 2 (Z-1657-2025) and posted it on April 23, 2025. The recall involves one unit and remains open [1].

November 13, 2024: Study Reviews MAUDE Reports

Filan and colleagues published an analysis of FDA MAUDE reports for MAGEC rods in Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science [2]. It counted 1016 adverse events reported to November 30, 2023. Adverse event reports do not prove that the rod caused each event.

May 25, 2022: FDA Ends the Model X Recall

The FDA terminated the Class 2 recall (Z-1898-2020) of NuVasive MAGEC Model X rods on May 25, 2022 [3]. That recall had begun on February 13, 2020.

December 13, 2021: CE Mark Reinstated

MedTech Dive reported that NuVasive told providers outside the U.S. the CE mark for the MAGEC system was reinstated as of November 19, 2021. Updated instructions call for removal after no more than two years, not six [4]. Global MAGEC shipments had been on hold since April 2021. That hold followed the temporary suspension of the CE mark.

July 15, 2021: FDA Issues Safety Communication

The FDA issued a safety communication on potential mechanical failures and biocompatibility concerns with MAGEC components. MD+DI reported it on July 19, 2021 [5]. NuVasive stopped U.S. sales of the MAGEC 1.5 and 2. It resumed sales of the modified Model X.

March 18, 2020: MHRA Issues Device Alert

The UK MHRA issued Medical Device Alert MDA/2020/010 on MAGEC System Model X rods [6]. It recommended X-ray follow-up of implanted patients within 3 months of the alert.

February 13, 2020: NuVasive Recalls Model X Rods

NuVasive began a recall of 3502 MAGEC Model X rods after end cap separation was observed after implantation. The FDA later classified it Class 2 (Z-1898-2020). Surgeons were told “Do not implant rods until further notice.”

What Are MAGEC Growing Rods?

According to a 2022 narrative review in PubMed Central, early-onset scoliosis is “any spinal deformity that is present before 10 years old, regardless of etiology” [7]. The magnetically controlled growing rod is a distraction-based implant. The review says it was “designed to minimize the problems associated with” traditional growing rods. It was proposed “to reduce the number of planned surgical interventions by avoiding repeated open lengthening procedures.”

Who May Be Affected?

Children treated for early-onset scoliosis with a MAGEC growing rod may be affected. MD+DI reported that the FDA safety communication named these devices:

• MAGEC Spinal Bracing and Distraction System
• MAGEC 2 Spinal Bracing and Distraction System
• MAGEC System
• MAGEC System Model X device
• Model X rod
• MAGEC System Rods

The devices are “intended for use in children under 10 years of age.” The 2025 recall covered one MAGEC 2 rod from lot GB1607ET. A claim depends on the child’s records, and only an individual legal review can say.

Reported Injuries or Damages

Regulators and the company describe the problems tied to the MAGEC rods. The FDA recall record says end cap separation may expose internal parts of the actuator. This could lead to wear debris from the titanium alloy and tissue discoloration nearby. The 2025 recall lot was “not assembled according to product specifications.” The FDA “began receiving reports in early 2021 describing local tissue reactions potentially related to endcap separation events,” MedTech Dive reported. The Filan analysis found these events most often: distraction mechanism failure (573), device wear (272) and actuator seal damage (180). Of 234 reports on MAGEC X devices, endcap separation was seen in 41.9% (99). The narrative review also cites Teoh et al. Their work suggests that metalwork problems in magnetically controlled growing rods are 4.67 times the risk seen with conventional growing rods.

Recall and Regulatory Background

The FDA cleared a modified MAGEC Model X rod in July 2020 to mitigate endcap separation. The MHRA said the end cap can de-thread after implantation. For a related implant, see our Precice Stryde implant lawsuit page.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep the records that show which rod your child has and what happened next:

• The implant card or operative report with the rod model and lot number
• Imaging such as X-rays, and follow-up visit records
• Revision or removal surgery records, and any explanted device
• Medical bills and insurance statements
• Recall or field safety notices you received
• Letters and messages with the hospital, surgeon or manufacturer
• A dated timeline of symptoms, such as new back pain

Keep the originals safe. Share copies when the surgeon, the hospital, the insurer or anyone else asks for records, and note who received them.

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines come from state law. They vary with where the patient lives and when the injury and its cause were discovered. Rules for children can differ from rules for adults, so the age of the child at implant and at injury may matter. Once a filing window closes, a claim for a MAGEC rod injury may be barred. Ask a lawyer promptly about the dates that apply to your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Did Globus Tell Customers About the 2025 MAGEC Recall?

Globus told customers about the 2025 MAGEC recall to monitor patients closely and report adverse events to Globus and FDA MedWatch. The FDA record lists US distribution of the one recalled unit in AR.

Can a MAGEC Rod with a Separated End Cap Still Lengthen?

A MAGEC rod with a separated end cap may still lengthen, according to the manufacturer. The MHRA alert records the manufacturer’s statement that affected devices “might still distract.” The MHRA asked for anteroposterior X-ray imaging to identify end cap separation.

What Does the Research Say About MAGEC Rod Failures?

The research on MAGEC rod failures includes the Filan analysis. Its authors wrote that it is the largest series of adverse events reported for MAGEC rods. Reports came mainly from the UK (465) and the US (421).

Were MAGEC Rods Recalled Outside the United States?

Yes, the 2020 NuVasive MAGEC Model X recall reached outside the United States. According to the FDA record, the recalled rods were distributed worldwide, including Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Does the FDA Recommend Removing a Working MAGEC Rod?

The FDA does not recommend removing a functioning MAGEC rod before two years after implantation. Patients with increasing unexpected back pain should be examined and X-rayed, and problems reported to the doctor and to FDA MedWatch.

What Did NuVasive Tell Surgeons About Revision?

NuVasive told surgeons it was “not recommending prophylactic revision based solely on the separation of an end cap.” If separation is detected, “removal of the device may be indicated.” The physician decides with the patient or family.

References

1. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfres/res.cfm?id=213256
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11706908/
3. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=181098
4. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/nuvasive-magec-devices-ce-mark-safety-update-fda/603448/
5. https://www.mddionline.com/regulatory-quality/fda-warns-of-potential-problems-with-some-nuvasive-magec-system-components
6. https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/spinal-implant-magec-system-model-x-rods-risk-of-failure-in-use-mda-2020-010
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9458941/