PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Johnson & Johnson unit is recalling a bone putty that may ignite under certain conditions during surgery.

Synthes, a unit of Johnson & Johnson that has its U.S. headquarters in West Chester, Pa., issued a recall for its hemostatic bone putty.

According to a release posted by the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, it has been determined that the hemostatic bone putty has the potential "to ignite if contacted with electrosurgical cautery systems under certain conditions during surgery."

Synthes first reported the problem on July 5 and requested medical facilities to examine their inventory and stop using the putty.

Hemostatic bone putty is used to stop bone bleeding by establishing a physical barrier along the edges of bones that have been damaged by trauma or cut during a surgical procedure.