Hernia Mesh Injury Risks

Reported Problems/Injuries Related to Hernia Mesh

There are numerous hernia mesh products currently on the market that are manufactured, marketed, and distributed by several different companies. Statistics show that more than 100,000 hernia mesh medical devices are implanted in patients in the United States in a given year. Coexistent with this widespread use of hernia mesh products is a rise in the number of injuries and deaths following implantation of these devices, increasing reports of adverse events associated with the use of hernia mesh, documented dangers of hernia mesh in scientific studies, and an upsurge in litigation against hernia mesh manufacturers.

The United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website cites the following regarding hernia mesh adverse events: “The most common adverse events following hernia repair with mesh are pain, infection, hernia recurrence, adhesion, and bowel obstruction. Some other potential adverse events that can occur following hernia repair with mesh are mesh migration and mesh shrinkage (contraction).” In a subsequent paragraph, the FDA goes on to state: “Many complications related to hernia repair with surgical mesh that have been reported to the FDA have been associated with recalled mesh products that are no longer on the market.” However, within a month of this statement being published, Ethicon voluntarily withdrew its Physiomesh hernia mesh repair product based on unpublished European data registries which cited a higher than average incidence of surgical revision rates following use of this product. By December of that same year (2016), the FDA reported ten deaths associated with the Physiomesh hernia mesh device manufactured by Ethicon. An incident such as this raises concern for many that the FDA may not be doing all it should to protect patients in terms of recalling medical devices known to pose a risk of injury or death.

With so many hernia mesh products on the market, it is important for consumers to be aware of the potential injury risks and complications associated with the use of these medical devices, as well as with the manufacturers who market these devices to surgeons. Even if a hernia mesh product has been recalled, injuries may arise in those who received an implanted device prior to the recall, and many times injuries may present several years following the hernia repair surgery.

Specific injuries and/or complications that have been reported by individuals following surgical repair of a hernia with implantation of hernia mesh include, but are not limited to:

• Chronic pain
• Infection
• High levels of hernia recurrence
• Adhesion
• Intestinal blockages
• Organ perforation
• Allergic reaction/Mesh rejection
• Mesh erosion
• Mesh migration
• Mesh shrinkage

Hernia Mesh Manufacturers and Products Currently Involved in Patient Injury Risks

If you or a loved one have experienced any injuries following the implantation of a hernia mesh medical device during hernia repair surgery, please click here to provide us information about your potential case against the manufacturer of this device.