This guidance provides performance criteria for spinal plating systems in support of the Safety and Performance Based Pathway. Under this framework, submitters (you) planning to submit a 510(k) using the Safety and Performance Based Pathway for spinal plating systems will have the option to use the performance criteria proposed in this guidance to support substantial equivalence, rather than a direct comparison of the performance of the subject device to that of a predicate device.

For the current edition of the FDA-recognized consensus standard(s) referenced in this document, see the FDA Recognized Consensus Standards Database. For more information regarding use of consensus standards in regulatory submissions, please refer to the FDA guidance titled Appropriate Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards in Premarket Submissions for Medical Devices.