Kim Gale  |  July 12, 2022

Category: Legal News

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Woman undergoing anesthesia before surgery
Hernia repair is one of the most common types of surgeries in the United States. Unfortunately, one of the key tools doctors use to repair these conditions has been linked to health issues: people who undergo hernia repair surgery often experience hernia mesh problems years later. If you received hernia repair surgery only to develop hernia mesh complications, you may be eligible to take legal action against the manufacturers of that mesh.

What is a hernia?

Hernias are tears in a weak spot in the muscle or connective tissue, which allows a part of the underlying organ or fatty tissue squeeze through. Hernias are internal, but are sometimes visible from the outside as a slight bulge pushing against the skin. They are most often visible when under strain. The most common types of hernias are inguinal, affecting the inner groin, but can also occur in the upper thigh, abdomen, belly button, and elsewhere.

Hernia mesh types

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hernia mesh comes in two types: synthetic or animal-based.

Synthetic hernia mesh comes in either knitted or non-knitted sheets and can either be absorbable, non-absorbable, or some combination of the two. The non-absorbable mesh is often coated with a protective substance because the mesh is meant to remain in the patient’s body indefinitely and can be considered a permanent implant. Either type of synthetic mesh has been linked to hernia mesh problems years later.

The animal-derived mesh is generally made of the intestine or skin of a pig or cow. The tissue is processed and disinfected before it can be used for hernia repair. According to the FDA, all animal-based hernia mesh are absorbable.

Can hernia mesh cause problems years later?

While hernia repair surgery is generally considered a safe procedure, those who undergo this surgery may experience hernia mesh problems years later. According to the FDA, the most common adverse effects that arise following hernia repair involving mesh are infection, pain, hernia recurrence, bowel obstruction, and adhesion. Hernia mesh has also been known to shrink or migrate, leading to severe pain and damage to internal tissue.

Rejection of the hernia mesh is one side effect that can occur soon after implantation because the body “sees” the mesh as a foreign object and tries to reject it. Problems can include fluid retention around the incision and possible infection as the body tries to rid itself of the mesh.

In many cases, the hernia mesh may degrade or fracture within the body. When this happens, pieces of the mesh may travel from the original site of implantation and perforate or adhere to other organs. This perforation or adhesion may result in internal bleeding and chronic pain. Additionally, some patients may experience a reaction to the material that the mesh is made out of. Inflammation or irritation may occur in the tissues around the site of the mesh.

Patients who have experienced hernia mesh complications have reported difficulty gaining or losing weight following their mesh implantation. According to some patients, weight changes or changes to the shape of their stomach results in pain from the mesh digging into the tissue, or a pulling sensation as the tissue moves away from the mesh. Some male patients have reported feeling as though they had razor blades under their skin after receiving mesh implants.

Other patients have reported severe bowel obstructions caused by their mesh that resulted in nausea and vomiting and required surgery to correct.

What are the symptoms of hernia mesh problems?

Hernia mesh problems can come with a number of painful symptoms. Hernia mesh problems can also lead to serious, life-threatening complications.

The FDA notes that symptoms of hernia mesh problems may include:

  • pain (local or generalized)
  • blood in the urine
  • internal bleeding
  • fistula formation
  • tenderness, swelling, or inflammation around the surgical site

Hernia mesh problems may also be linked to chronic pain, though exact patient experiences may differ. Some individuals with hernia mesh complications may experience pain under certain circumstances, while others may suffer from pain nearly constantly.

When faced with these and other symptoms, patients may seek hernia mesh removal to end their pain.

Will hernia mesh removal resolve the pain?

Many patients who experience hernia mesh problems years later opt to have the pieces of mesh removed. However, hernia mesh removal surgery may be more tricky than implantation surgery. As the mesh may have moved, shrunk, broken, twisted, or adhered to organs, it may be difficult or impossible to completely remove the implanted mesh from the body. Even when it is possible to remove the mesh, it may take multiple follow up surgeries to remove every piece.

Mesh removal may still leave the patient with chronic pain due to nerve damage. According to patient reports, the side effects of damaged or degraded hernia mesh may leave some people permanently injured or disabled. In addition to long-term or permanent physical side effects including chronic pelvic or groin pain, urinary incontinence, and pain during intercourse, many patients also claim that the mesh left them with emotional disorders including depression or anxiety.

The FDA notes that many of the reports of hernia problems that they’ve received involve hernia mesh that has been recalled. These products are associated with all of the adverse effects laid out above as well as perforation. The FDA has found that these recalled devices cause hernia mesh problems years later.

What hernia mesh has been recalled?

Doctors with gloves and tools in operating roomSince 2005, more than 211,000 units of hernia mesh have been recalled due to packaging errors or due to patients developing hernia mesh problems years after surgery. Atrium Medical, Bard Davol, and Ethicon each had to recall mesh products.

Ethicon, a Johnson and Johnson subsidiary, announced it would be recalling its Physiomesh products in 2016 after they had been linked to “higher revision rates”, according to Mass Device. The company cited a “multifactorial issue” as the cause of the mesh problems. Those with an implant that has been recalled are advised to monitor the device “as usual”.

“Ethicon recognizes the voluntary product recall of the Ethicon Physiomesh composite mesh may be disruptive to your facility and apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause,” the company wrote in a statement.

Other hernia mesh products that have been recalled include:

  • Ethicon Proceed Surgical Mesh
  • Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh
  • Atrium Medical C-QUR Mesh
  • Bard Composix Kugel Hernia Patch

Individuals who have undergone hernia repair surgery and developed hernia mesh problems years later may be able to seek damages from the company that manufactured the mesh.

What damages can I expect to claim?

Company recalls of hernia mesh and other medical devices often recommend consumers merely monitor their device and consult with their doctor. However, many patients are forced to undergo revision surgery or further repairs after the recurrence of mesh complications. Because of these issues, several hernia mesh lawsuits have been filed over the years to seek compensation.

If you have developed hernia mesh problems after your hernia repair surgery, there are few different kinds of damages you may be awarded. In cases involving personal injury, damages come in two types: economic and non-economic. Economic damages can be calculated exactly and include things like your medical expenses and lost wages. Non-economic damages may not have an easily calculable dollar amount and generally include things like pain and suffering, and lost relationships. Most successful cases of this type also include attorney fees and court costs.

If you had hernia repair surgery only to develop hernia mesh problems years later, you may be able to seek compensation for the injury and expenses caused by those problems. Some hernia mesh lawsuits accuse manufacturers of hiding the risks associated with their products. If you have a mesh implant that has been recalled but haven’t developed any issues as a result, you still may be able to seek compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with these hernia mesh failure symptoms, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free Hernia Mesh Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The hernia mesh attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, hernia mesh lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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