What is Hernia Mesh and Why is it the Subject of Litigation?
Tens of millions of Americans have some sort of medical device implanted in their bodies. Hernia mesh is one such device. Hernia mesh is used during surgery to help support tissue or organs temporarily. It can also be used as a permanent implant to help reconstruct, support, or reinforce internal organs. The most common uses of hernia mesh as an implanted medical device is to help with incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and hernia repair.
Thousands of individuals across the nation have reported complications from surgical mesh. These complications have led to thousands of lawsuits. They have filed lawsuits against many manufacturers and distributors of surgical mesh, including those manufacturing hernia mesh.
Hernia Mesh Can Cause Injuries, Leading to Lawsuits for Damages
If you have experienced injuries caused by the use of surgical mesh to repair your hernia, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit to recover compensation. Alonso Krangle, LLP is a surgical mesh law firm that can help determine if you have a claim.
Consider the following questions:
Did you have a hernia injury? Did you have surgery to repair the hernia? Did your doctor implant surgical mesh? Did it fail to work correctly and cause further injuries? Did you have an additional surgery to repair the mesh?
Contact our office today to discuss this and learn if you are eligible to collect damages from one of the many makers of hernia mesh, including Johnson & Johnson, Atrium, and Bard.
What is a Hernia?
A combination of pressure and weakness in a particular spot of tissue or muscle can cause hernias. A hernia occurs when one of your organs, part of your intestine or fatty tissue squeezes through a hole or the weak spot in the muscle or connective tissue that surrounds it. Hernias can be unseen or visible. When straining or bearing down, a hernia often becomes apparent as a noticeable bulge.
The abdominal wall is a common location for a hernia to occur. Anything that causes an increase in abdominal pressure can cause a hernia. A hernia may be the result of:
- Obesity
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Lifting something heavy
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Other conditions that weaken muscles such as smoking, malnutrition, overexertion
There are Different Types of Hernias
The most common types of hernias are:
- Inguinal: a hernia that occurs in the inner groin
- Femoral: this hernia occurs in the upper thigh/outer groin
- Ventral: arises in the general abdominal or ventral wall
- Hiatal: this hernia occurs inside the abdomen, along the upper stomach and diaphragm
- Umbilical: this hernia occurs at the site of the belly button
- Incisional: this happens when the bulge appears through an incision or scar in the abdomen
While some of these hernias may never cause bothersome symptoms, often they will result in pain and discomfort that worsens over time. Nausea, swelling, and vomiting may also occur, which indicates a need for quick medical attention.
Treating Hernias With Surgical Mesh
Surgery is often the only way to repair a hernia injury. Your surgeon may do open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Because hernias have a high rate of recurrence, surgical mesh is often used to reinforce the weakened tissue to lessen the risk of another hernia.
The mesh used to repair comes in sheets, plugs, and patches. It is constructed from absorbable or non-absorbable materials. Non-absorbable hernia mesh is considered a permanent implant to provide long-term reinforcement of the tissue. The absorbable mesh is intended to dissolve or degrade over time, eventually to disappear as new tissue grows.
Hernia Mesh Causes Severe Injuries and Complications for Patients
Complications from hernia mesh have been reported in large numbers. Complaints of injuries and the need for additional surgeries to remove the mesh have led to lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors. Often the injuries from the hernia mesh and the subsequent medical procedures required are far worse than the original hernia injury. Adverse reports include:
- Pain
- Infection
- Adhesion
- Bowel perforation
- Obstruction
- Migration
Hernia mesh has allegedly caused injuries in various ways, depending on the type of mesh and its manufacturer. For example:
- In some cases, the hernia mesh was made in a way that resulted in incomplete absorption leading to severe health complications.
- In others, the mesh was not strong enough to withstand regular activity, and hernias occurred through the mesh itself, requiring additional surgery and causing significant pain.
- Some reported that the coating on the hernia mesh caused it to migrate from the site of implantation and attach to unintended internal organs causing severe pain and surgical procedures.
- Patients had to undergo repeated, complicated surgeries to remove the surgical mesh and to repair additional hernias.
- Still, other cases allege that hernia mesh was made with a dangerous material that the manufacturer should have known would cause infections, pain, perforations, and more.
Call the Hernia Mesh Lawyers at Alonso Krangle, LLP
If you or someone you love had complications from a surgical hernia mesh implant, contact Alonso Krangle, LLP to find out if you are eligible to collect a settlement or file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries. Our hernia mesh lawyers can help hold medical device companies accountable for defective products and endangering the public.
Are you unsure if your hernia mesh was recalled? Do you know if it was Ethicon Physiomesh or Atrium C-Qur? Do not be concerned if you do not know the specific manufacturer – we can find this in your medical records.
We will work with you and determine if you have a case. If we believe you do, we can work with you to help you collect the maximum amount of damages the law allows. Call us today at 516-350-5555.