Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
Have you ever had a surgery to correct a hernia? Chances are, if you had such a surgery in the last ten years you were fitted with some type of hernia mesh to help the repaired hernia heal. Hernia mesh can be made from synthetic materials or animal tissue, and is placed inside the body to support a healing hernia.
Statistically, the use of hernia mesh to help aid in the recovery of hernias does decrease the likelihood of future complications in the area of the hernia, and decreases the risk of needing any follow-up surgeries.
Unfortunately, not all hernia mesh products are equivalent, and some have been outright recalled due to problematic and potentially life-threatening complications that they create. The following hernia mesh products have been officially recalled.
Ethicon – a subsidiary company of Johnson & Johnson
- Proceed (FDA approval in 2003, recalled in 2006, 2011 and 2014)
- Physiomesh (FDA approval in 2010, withdrawn from sales by company in June, 2016)
Atrium Medical Corporation of Maquet Getinge Group
- C-QUR surgical mesh (gained FDA approval in 2006, recalled in 2013)
Bard Davol, a subsidiary company of C.R. Bard
- Kugel
- 3DMax
- Perfix
- Sepramesh
Ethicon’s ‘Physiomesh’ product is the most recent large-scale recall of hernia mesh, and occurred in 2016. The mesh is made from a chemical compound called polypropylene, which can be incredibly dangerous should it come into contact with human tissue because of its tendency to “stick” to the tissue; opening up a whole host of potential complications depending on where the mesh is placed within the body.
Physiomesh was coated in multiple other materials to prevent contact between the polypropylene and the inside of the human body, however the decision to pull the product from the market indicates that there were too many people experiencing the complications to continue to push the mesh on the market.
C.R. Bard’s products resulted in three Class 1 recalls (potentially life-threatening) between 2005 and 2007. Complications included fistulas and perforation of bowels.
No matter what the product, there is always a risk that the mesh will not perform its duties entirely correctly and will require a second, or more, surgery to correct the complication. Hernia mesh can also cause a number of other side effects, including:
- Pain and bleeding
- Adhesions (scar tissue that sticks together)
- Seroma (a buildup of fluid at the site of incision)
- Nerve damage
- Infections
- Shrinking/migrating/compromised mesh
- Bowel and intestinal blockage
- Autoimmune reactions/mesh rejection
- Reoccurrence of hernia
- Fistulas (irregular points of connection between separate organs)
- Organ tears and perforations
Should any of these complications occur to you or a loved one, you may be entitled to significant compensation for the pain that you’ve endured and the expenses you have incurred as a result of the faulty medical procedure. There are thousands of ongoing hernia mesh lawsuits happening today, and you may be able to recover damages for your own experience.
When you go to the hospital to receive surgery, you should feel comfortable that a procedure will not lead to further complications down the line due to a faulty product, such as some of these hernia mesh products have been revealed to be.
At Altman & Altman LLP, we have over 40 years of experience standing with individuals who have been wronged due to many different kinds of circumstances. If your life has been negatively affected because you required a follow-up hernia mesh surgery, we believe that you have a right to recover funds that were lost to unexpected medical bills and time spent unable to work due to this unforeseeable occurrence.
Call us for a free consultation today to go over the details of your case at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7, and we don’t get paid a penny unless you are successful in your claim.
