Hernia Mesh Lawyer

Hernia surgeries are among the most common surgeries in America. If you had a product such as a hernia patch or hernia mesh implanted to repair a hernia, it is important to understand your hernia repair surgery to determine whether you may have a lawsuit. A hernia happens when inner layers of muscle become weakened and the underlying lining bulges form a sac.  Hernia repair products can generally be divided into two categories: synthetic and biologic. Synthetic meshes are made of man-made materials, such as polypropylene, ePTFE, composite mesh, or polyester fibers. Biologic implants are derived from donated human or animal dermis.

The hernia mesh is a medical product used to treat some hernias. Although it has vastly improved the quality of life of many people in the United States, the implant procedures and design aspects of the device have lead to serious complications in some patients. Lawsuits have been filed against makers, seeking compensation for injuries caused by the device. Our team of hernia mesh lawyers is currently investigating and gathering information about these cases.

What is the Hernia Mesh Used For?

Hernia meshes are mainly used to treat a hernia, which occurs when an organ, intestine or fatty tissue squeezes through a hole or a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. Despite the fact that hernia mesh can lead to serious complications like organ perforation, bowel obstruction, adhesion and infection, many patients are not offered an alternative method of treatment.

The majority of surgical mesh devices available for use are constructed from synthetic materials. Surgical mesh made of synthetic materials can be found in knitted mesh or non-knitted sheet forms. The synthetic materials used can be absorbable, non-absorbable or a combination of absorbable and non-absorbable.

Non-absorbable mesh will remain in the body indefinitely and is considered a permanent implant. It is used to provide permanent reinforcement to the repaired hernia. Absorbable mesh will degrade and lose strength over time. It is not intended to provide long-term reinforcement to the repair site. As the material degrades, new tissue growth is intended to provide strength to the repair. According to the FDA’s analysis of medical adverse events recalled mesh products and said that the main cause was due to bowel perforation and obstruction complications.

Types of Hernia Mesh

There are a number of brands made by a few different manufacturers.

Hernia Mesh Complications & Problems

Although implants have helped improve the quality of life in many patients, there have been serious complications and adverse side effects associated with these devices. Many products contain a type of plastic known as polypropylene — the same material that is used to make many types of pelvic mesh and bladder slings.

These complications have been so serious to some that legal action has been taken.

According to the FDA, complications that may be caused by failure of the mesh to function as intended may include:

• Pain
• Infection
• Hernia recurrence
• Adhesion
• Bowel obstruction
• Organ perforation

Some other potential adverse events that can occur following hernia repair with mesh are mesh migration and mesh shrinkage (contraction), all of which should be documented and discussed with an attorney.

Atrium C-QUR Hernia Mesh Complications

The Atrium C-QUR hernia mesh is a medical product used to treat some hernias.

Although it has vastly improved the quality of life of many people in the United States, the implant procedures and design aspects of the device have lead to serious complications in some patients.

Lawsuits have been filed against Atrium, the hernia mesh makers, seeking compensation for injuries caused by the device. Our legal team is currently investigating and gathering information about these cases.

Although hernia mesh implants have helped improve the quality of life in many patients, there have been serious complications and adverse side effects associated with these devices. Many hernia mesh products contain a type of plastic known as polypropylene — the same material that is used to make many types of pelvic mesh and bladder slings. Atrium’s mesh is made of polypropylene with an Omega 3 gel coating.

The gel coating was marketed as a way to prevent negative side effects from the device, but allegations have been made that the coating actually resulted in the increased complications and infections reported.

The C-QUR mesh came on the market in 2006 and was recalled in 2013 after the FDA informed the company of increased infection rates. A Class II recall of approximately 1,300 lots was implemented on August 9, 2013.

These complications have been so serious to some that legal action has been taken against the Atrium C-QUR hernia mesh with the assistance of experienced lawyers.

 Ventral Hernia Repair

Our attorneys have uncovered design defects in a large number of hernia mesh products. The defects can lead to several painful complications, including — but not limited to:

• Infection, including sepsis
• Abdominal Pain
• Abnormal Sweating
• Adhesions
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Bowel Obstruction
• Constipation
• Dental Problems
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fistula
• Joint Aches and Pain
• Leg, Groin, and Testicular Pain
• Liver Abnormalities
• Meshoma
• Nausea
• Neurological Changes
• Pain with Sex (Dyspareunia)
• Rashes
• Renal Failure
• Seroma
• Severe Headaches
• Testicle Removal

Hernia Mesh: Lawsuits, Settlements, Case Results

C.R. Bard has offered a $184 million settlement to 3,000 Kugel hernia patch-implanted patients. Plaintiff Christopher Thorpe was awarded $1.5 million in the first Kugel settlement.

Ethicon voluntarily withdrew its physiomesh products in May 2016 due to higher-than-average recurrence and reoperation. Numerous cases have been filed against Ethicon becaue of Physiomesh, including in federal courts in Florida, Illinois and Massachusetts. And Ethicon had to pay $3.35 million in a transvaginal mesh case in 2013.

C.R. Bard also gave out a $5.5 million settlement to an individual in Bakersfield, Calif., and a $2 million settlement to an individual in Charleston, W.V., for its transvaginal mesh.

Similar to other hernia treatments, Ventralex hernia patch is a medical product used to treat some hernias. While there is no Ventralex mesh class action case at this time, several lawsuits are currently pending in state courts.

There are many hernia meshes on the market today, including the Covidien hernia mesh, a device whose recurrence rates have led some patients to remove it and have ventral hernia repair. There have been no Covidien settlements or jury trials yet. However, in 2015 Covidien settled a number of pelvic mesh claims. Covidien also makes a transvaginal mesh.

Physiomesh Lawsuits

Intended for hernia repair, Physiomesh is a flexible polypropylene mesh designed to reinforce the abdominal wall, preventing future hernias from occurring. Specifically, Physiomesh is used to fill in a hole in the abdominal muscle or laid over or under it to prevent any further protrusions.

Independent studies have found Physiomesh to lead to high rates of complications including hernia reoccurrence, organ perforation, mesh migration, sepsis and even death.

In May 2016, Ethicon issued a market withdrawal of Physiomesh in the U.S. and recalled the product in Europe and Australia.

We are currently investigating cases involving serious injury or death as a result of Ethicon’s Physiomesh.

Numerous cases have been filed against Ethicon becaue of its Physiomesh hernia mesh, including in federal courts in Florida, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Physiomesh hernia mesh cases are still being litigated and as for March 2017 there have been no jury trials or reported settlements. Ethicon did, however, have to pay $3.35 million in a transvaginal mesh case in 2013.

Contact a Hernia Mesh Attorney for Help with a Claim

How do you know if the manufacturer of your mesh is responsible for your injury? Like with any medical operation, hernia meshes are not guaranteed fixes. However, if a product is defective and caused you an injury, you may have a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.

As with any surgery, it is important that you find out exactly what product you have implanted during your surgery. It is especially critical to know what kind of product was implanted to repair your hernia in assessing a potential hernia mesh lawsuit. Contact your doctor or surgeon’s office, or the medical records department of your hospital to obtain a copy of your operative report or any other medical document that provides product identification of your hernia mesh or patch. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is a governmental agency that can issue warnings or recalls when a product is defective.

After you’ve established what kind of product you have implanted, it is important that a doctor or surgeon has diagnosed an injury.

Both patients and their families are seeking compensation for injuries sustained.

You may be entitled to a settlement if you were harmed. Below is the current criteria that is taken into consideration by lawyers who are helping to file a hernia mesh lawsuit:

1. Client had ventral hernia repair using synthetic mesh-Physiomesh, C-Qur, or another composite mesh product
2. Hernia mesh was implanted between 2006 and May 25, 2016.
3. Accepting cases if claimant has suffered:

• Additional surgeries to treat a hernia recurrence
• Additional surgeries to treat a mesh related failure or injury
• Adhesions
• Bacterial infections
• Hernia recurrence
• Mesh migration
• Obstructions
• Pain
• Swelling

Our hernia mesh lawyers can work with you to file a claim if you were harmed as a result of faulty implantation.