An Arkansas resident recently filed a lawsuit against Davol, alleging the medical device manufacturer’s hernia mesh device caused him serious and permanent complications.

The plaintiff, Randolph J., was underwent right inguinal hernia repair on Oct. 26, 2009 at an Arkansas hospital. Unfortunately, in the years following implantation of the device, Randolph says he began to experience serious complications, eventually leading to explant surgery in October 2015. According to his lawsuit, the damage caused by the inguinal hernia repair is expected to necessitate additional surgeries to repair.

Randolph’s inguinal hernia repair lawsuit joins the growing pile of litigation filed over hernia mesh devices. If you or someone you love has suffered from mesh complications after undergoing inguinal hernia repair, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Basics of the PerFix Plug Device

Hernia mesh devices are commonly used to reinforce weak areas or patch up holes caused by a hernia. The specific device used during the inguinal hernia repair was the PerFix Plug from Davol, a subsidiary of medical giant C.R. Bard.

This device is a polypropylene mesh product that Davol claims won’t move. But Randolph’s lawsuit alleges that, according to scientific studies, the mesh material is “biologically incompatible with human tissue” and capable of promoting an “immune response in a large subset of the population receiving the product,” which can cause mesh degradation over time and lead to serious adverse effects.

According to Randolph’s inguinal hernia repair lawsuit, a number of polypropylene providers warned that the material should not be used for permanent implantation.

Randolph filed his inguinal hernia repair lawsuit on Oct. 5, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of the Southern District of Ohio. The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including manufacturing and design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of implied warranties, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, among other things.

Hernia Mesh Complications

More and more patients are coming forward with allegations of side effects caused by hernia mesh devices, including hernia recurrence, device rejection, infection, device migration, and chronic pain, among several others. When a device migrates out of place, patients may face even further risks, including device failure, adhesion, and infection.

These kinds of complications can often necessitate the removal of hernia mesh to alleviate. Of course, additional surgery brings with it further medical expenses, as well as further risks of infection and other side effects.

Filing an Inguinal Hernia Repair Lawsuit

Despite the wide use of hernia mesh implants, more and more patients who have undergone inguinal hernia repair fare coming forward with allegations of serious side effects.

If you or a loved one have suffered from side effects after undergoing inguinal hernia repair with a PerFix Plug or similar mesh device, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot alleviate injuries caused by hernia mesh complications, it can at least help compensate for financial damages caused by medical expenses and lost wages.

The Inguinal Hernia Repair Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-01194-EAS-KAJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of the Southern District of Ohio.