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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines a hernia as a hole or weak spot that develops in the muscle or connective tissue, allowing an organ, intestine, or fatty tissue to squeeze through. Many times, surgeons use mesh material to help reinforce the repair, but hernia mesh side effects can be severe.
Unfortunately, complications rise in 12 to 30 percent of patients, according to the BBC, and one of the most common hernia mesh side effects is mesh pain.
Hernia mesh: overview
Hernia mesh devices are used to reinforce the weakened or damaged area through which organs have protruded. The mesh is intended to reduce the risk of hernia recurrence by spreading the tension of the repair across the abdominal wall, which then allows for normal movement after surgery.
A study published in the medical journal Membranes reports that there are more than 70 types of hernia mesh.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), surgical hernia mesh comes in two types: synthetic and animal-derived, but synthetic mesh makes up the majority on the market. Part of the reason for this is that synthetic mesh is substantially cheaper than biological mesh.
Synthetic hernia mesh is either knitted mesh or non-knitted sheets of absorbable or non-absorbable materials. Non-absorbable mesh stays in the body and is considered an implant. Non-absorbable mesh provides long-term reinforcement while absorbable mesh degrades as new tissue forms.
Animal-derived mesh is absorbable and is usually derived from cows or pigs before being processed and disinfected for use.
Potential hernia mesh issues
While the majority of hernia mesh surgeries are safe and effective, complications may occur. According to a hernia mesh study, complications usually arise due to the “chemical and structural nature of the mesh itself.”
Unfortunately, undergoing additional surgeries to repair or replace hernia mesh may come with its own complications. Often, these secondary surgeries are more complex than the initial insertion of the mesh, due to mesh migration, breakage, or adherence to other internal organs. It may take several additional surgeries to remove all of the fractured or adhered pieces of mesh, in addition to fixing any damage or perforations caused by the defective implant. For some patients, it may be impossible to fully remove all the pieces of mesh. Additional surgery can also introduce a further risk of infection.
Even after removal or replacement surgeries, many patients have reported that they continue to experience negative side effects such as hernia mesh pain after surgery. One man said that following his hernia mesh repair surgery, he continues to suffer intense hernia mesh pain and often takes morphine in order to cope. Other patients have reported being unable to work or engage in previous hobbies or activities due to a loss of energy or mobility they attribute to the mesh implant.
Patients have also reported being unable to lose or gain weight due to pain at the site of the mesh. Some people claim that their quality of life has decreased socially as well, due to embarrassment about their physical limitations, or the development of side effects such as incontinence.
What causes hernia mesh pain?
Hernia mesh pain after surgery can be caused by a wide variety of complications. Patients may experience hernia mesh pain in the form of a burning sensation near the site, swelling or pain during sex, nerve damage, or an adverse reaction to the mesh itself.
Generally, hernia mesh pain is caused when the mesh itself causes an injury or induces inflammation to the skin, muscles, or nerves. When the mesh degrades or breaks, sharp edges may cause damage to surrounding organs, resulting in internal bleeding and chronic hernia mesh pain years later.
Finally, nerve entrapment can be caused by hernia repair and can lead to serious pain and discomfort.
Are all brands of hernia mesh the same?
Hernia mesh properties may vary by brand name. Some hernia mesh products may be linked to recalls due to safety concerns such as hernia mesh pain.
Atrium Medical Corp. made the C-QUR hernia mesh that was coated with Omega 3 fish oil to help prevent adhesions. Unfortunately, some patients were allergic to the substance, which then caused rejection and hastened the inflammation. The oily gel coating also prevented fluid from properly routing away from the surgical site, giving rise to a seroma that induced hernia mesh pain after surgery.
Atrium also faced allegations that the chemical placed in the packaging to keep the hernia mesh sterile lacked the proper moisture content to sufficiently activate the ingredient. As a result, the mesh was less than sterile when removed from the package. Plus, the dried out packaging meant most of the fish oil coating stuck to the inside of the package instead of to the mesh itself.
Atrium’s C-QUR hernia mesh was the subject of an FDA recall in 2013.
Physiomesh made by Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, is another brand name hernia mesh linked to a variety of adverse effects.
Made of five layers, Ethicon sold Physiomesh as a mesh designed to prevent or reduce potential adhesions or inflammation. Instead, many patients found the mesh was impermeable, which led to fluid retention and infection because bacteria became trapped within the layers.
In some patients, Physiomesh disintegrates over time. Within a year of having Physiomesh implanted during a hernia repair procedure, one patient needed surgery for a bowel obstruction because of the corroding mesh.
In other cases, Physiomesh’s layers degrade, potentially adhering to tissue or the intestines. Bowel strangulation or bowel perforation is possible, too, causing hernia mesh pain years later.
Class action lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson charged a premium for Physiomesh because the company considered the multi-layered coating to be an enhanced feature. In the end, patients did not benefit from the unique design and say their risk of complications actually increased due to it.
Physiomesh was taken off the market in May 2016 because research found the mesh had higher revision rates than expected.
If you’re not sure which hernia mesh you had implanted, your surgeon or the medical facility where you had the hernia repair completed should be able to find the brand name and size of the hernia mesh that was used.
How to find hernia mesh lawsuit lawyers
A growing number of people are coming forward with allegations of hernia mesh complications. If you underwent hernia surgery only to experience hernia mesh pain, you may be eligible to file a civil suit or join a class action lawsuit against the mesh manufacturers.
If you’ve experienced hernia mesh pain after surgery, you may decide to take legal action, and an attorney can help you receive maximum compensation.
Join a free hernia mesh class action lawsuit investigation
If you underwent hernia surgery and suffered severe pain, your complications may be the result of a defective mesh product made by one of the four main hernia mesh manufacturers, Ethicon, C.R. Bard, Covidien, and Atrium.
You may qualify to seek compensation for your injuries through a hernia mesh repair lawsuit.
Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a free case evaluation.
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