Hernia Mesh Defects

The 100,000 Americans receiving hernia mesh implants each year probably aren’t aware of hernia mesh defects hidden from patients. Such defects include mesh erosion and can cause life-threatening injuries. Victims have a legal right to claim compensation with a hernia mesh lawsuit provided by the Willis Law Firm.

How Are Hernia Mesh Defects Hidden?

As for how hernia mesh defects are hidden, consider this: Manufacturers of hernia mesh implants persuaded physicians to use them by presenting their own self-made -- and self-serving -- studies showing their effectiveness and alleged safety.

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Such studies did not take into account the long-term effects of hernia mesh defects, since they did not include monitoring of patients for extended times following mesh implant surgery. While claiming that hernia mesh implants had less instances of hernia recurrence, the studies also had a narrow definition of “complications,” so that few were actually listed.

Physicians themselves also have relied on other incomplete or outdated studies to justify hernia mesh surgery over long-used suture surgery, which rarely causes complications. Such studies claimed that polypropylene, a mesh material, did not cause harmful complications in hernia surgery, when in fact the plastic-like material is harmful.

These studies predated what’s become rampant use of laparoscopic surgery for implanting hernia mesh far into the abdomen. Since then, mesh with polypropylene often comes in contact with the bowel, causing serious mesh side effects.

Polypropylene is the same harmful material which some of the same manufacturers have used in transvaginal mesh implants, leading to severe injuries in women and prompting earlier mesh lawsuits.

Hernia Mesh Recalls & Withdrawals

Another way in which manufacturers hide or disguise harmful hernia mesh defects is to produce many variations of the same product. When one fails, a manufacturer can issue a hernia mesh recall or just quietly withdraw the product from the market, while selling others which are just as harmful -- yet profitable.

Actually, despite growing evidence of hernia mesh defects and complications, few hernia mesh recalls have been made. Most often, manufacturers such as Ethicon, owned by Johnson & Johnson, have simply withdrawn defective mesh products such as Physiomesh on their own, with no formal recall.

Other manufacturers may leave their defective products on the market, where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives them far too much leeway. Again, few mesh recalls are made which would cause negative publicity.

Types of Hernia Mesh Defects

Among the types of hernia mesh defects are hernia mesh erosion. That means the mesh implant that’s designed to bolster the body and contain a hernia instead erodes, or falls apart. Mesh pieces then can become embedded in the stomach, the bowel or other tissue, causing inflammation, extreme pain and other injuries.

When hernia mesh erodes and falls apart it can adhere to the bowel, it can cause bowel obstruction which prevents defecation. That can necessitate partial bowel removal or colostomies. Mesh erosion also can cause severe infections. Coated or “composite” mesh, offered as a substitute for polypropylene mesh, also can cause injuries. These include mesh failure which allows a new and often larger hernia to protrude. This requires follow-up surgery to treat the new hernia. Hernia mesh defects also can contribute to kidney failure, liver abnormalities, fever, rashes, joint aches, severe headaches, rotting teeth, autoimmune disorders and leg, groin or testicular pain.

Get a Hernia Mesh Lawsuit

If you suffered such injuries from hernia mesh complication or defect that was hidden from you, then you have a legal right to seek payments for your losses, including your medical bills. Contact The Willis Law Firm today for a free case review toward your possible hernia mesh lawsuit. 

Free Mesh Erosion Lawsuit Evaluation or Call Nationwide Toll Free 1-800-468-4878