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Hernia Mesh is a medical device that’s implanted within the body by a surgeon—designed to patch or repair an area of the body where fatty tissue, an internal organ or intestine has bulged through a hole or weakness in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue.
While surgical meshes have been used for years to implement repairs, offer support and promote healing, there are numerous reasons why some meshes that are currently in use have a propensity to cause pain, infection and even fail—ultimately requiring corrective/revision surgery and additional recuperation time.
Many of today’s modern hernia meshes are constructed of polypropylene (brand names include PROLENE® and Marlex®, for example)—basically a monofilament (plastic or resin) suture. For certain applications, the mesh is coated with a fatty acid, cellulose or collagen to prevent adhesion or the forming of scar tissue that can fuse the mesh with the intestines or other organs.
Hernia mesh devices first became widely used by the late 1980s and accounted for roughly 90 percent of all hernia procedures by 2000, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In that time, many studies have been conducted that contradict manufacturer’s claims—calling into question the suitability of these devices for use in the human body. By 2016, some products, such as Ethicon’s Physiomesh, were either pulled or withdrawn from U.S. and world markets. By 2018, more than 50,000 hernia mesh lawsuits have been filed in both state and federal courts—with two of the largest contributors to individual cases being Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson’s Physiomesh and Atrium Medical Corporation’s C-Qur Mesh.
Manufacturers of Hernia Mesh that May Fail or Cause Problems
Here are just some of the manufacturers who now make or have made some of the more popular hernia meshes in use. Some specific product names are listed, but others do apply—it’s best to contact one of our knowledgeable hernia mesh attorneys to understand if the maker of your mesh is one known to have problems.
- Atrium – Makers of the C-Qur hernia mesh
- C.R. Bard (Davol) – Makers of the Composix, Sepramesh and Ventrio meshes
- Covidien (Tyco) – Makers of more than a half dozen mesh devices
- Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson – Makers of Physiomesh, Prolene and Proceed meshes
- Gore – Makers of DualMesh and DualMesh Plus
Hernia Mesh Complications and Side Effects
In an effort to be more competitive with sales of hernia mesh, some companies released “new and improved” products that might not have been fully tested over a long enough period of time. Such devices were often “fast-tracked” through the FDA via a process known as Premarket Notification 510 (k), which allows for a less stringent trial period on the promise that more in-depth testing will follow.
Over time, common problems with hernia patients have included, but not limited to, these and other side effects:
- Chronic pain
- Inflammatory, allergic or hypersensitivity reaction
- Swelling
- Adhesion to bowels or other organs
- Bacterial infections
- Encapsulation or “folding over” of the mesh
- Intestinal obstructions
- Organ perforation
- Mesh migration (moving throughout the body)
- Fistulas (bowel perforation or blockage)
Have You Had Hernia Surgery that Used a Hernia Mesh Device?
There are numerous types of hernias and corresponding surgical procedures to correct each one, but several have commonly involved the use of hernia mesh and thus are typically the ones that exhibit problems months or years later. One of the most common types of injury that uses mesh in its repair is the inguinal hernia. It starts with a weakness in the inner groin area and then allows abdominal contents into the inguinal canal, causing pain and discomfort. Another type is the ventral hernia, or one that has pushed through a weakened area of the abdominal wall. And then there’s the incisional hernia. This occurs when an organ or tissue bulges through or reopens a past surgical incision.
If you or a family member has had a hernia surgery and a mesh device was used, you may be entitled to compensation. This includes cases where individuals have sought medical attention for one or more of the complications listed above and a failed or defective hernia mesh implant was blamed. Also applicable is when a revision surgery has taken place or been recommended but contraindicated due to medical reasons.
Get the Compensation You Deserve
Because of the complexity involved in determining if you have a case against any of these hernia mesh products, it’s important you contact one of our hernia mesh attorneys today. You could be entitled to financial restitution for lost wages, unpaid medical bills, pain and suffering, and a loss of quality of life due to defective hernia repair devices.
We have helped thousands in similar situations and we can help you begin the process. Our experienced product liability legal team can evaluate your specific case with no out-of-pocket cost to you—the evaluation is free.