Hernia surgical mesh implants are used to aid in a person’s recovery from hernia surgery by strengthening the tissue surrounding the injury. These surgical devices have been used for years, even though many types of hernia mesh have caused serious harm to patients and have been subject to high-profile recalls.
At Pogust Goodhead, we fight for our clients to ensure they get the compensation they deserve. Our attorneys have years of experience handling cases stemming from defective medical devices, and we know how to get results for our clients.
Hernia Surgeries
When an organ, intestine or tissue is forced through a hole in a muscle or connective tissue, the result is an often-painful condition known as a hernia. These injuries are often visible in the form of a bulge around the abdominal wall. Hernias can be treated by non-surgical methods, but doctors frequently turn to surgery to remedy the condition.
Some surgical procedures used to treat hernias employ surgical mesh.
Mesh is made of synthetic materials or animal tissue. It comes in many different varieties, including knitted, non-knitted, absorbable or non-absorbable. Some of these varieties are meant to stay in a patient’s body permanently, while others will dissolve over time once the tissue has healed and become stronger. Many of the problematic meshes involved in litigation contain a “coating” which the mesh manufacturers knew, or had reason to know, would expose patients to even greater risk of injury.
Complications from Hernia Surgical Mesh
The use of hernia surgical mesh has led to complications in many patients. Even when the mesh used in a patient is supposedly safe, it can lead to pain, infection, hernia recurrence, adhesion, and bowel obstruction. Often times, the complications result due to failure of the surgical mesh to properly “integrate” into a patient’s body. From there, the mesh may break off and cause damage to other parts of the patient’s abdominal or groin area.
Several types of surgical mesh have been subject to recall in recent years. These types of mesh are even more dangerous for patients. The Food and Drug Administration lists complications reported from defective hernia surgical mesh that include pain, infection, recurrence, adhesion, obstruction and perforation. In many cases, mesh was used in patients even after recalls were issued.
Patients might experience any of the complications listed above or a combination of many different complications. Complications could arise soon after a surgical procedure or up to several months, or even years, after the surgery was performed.
Infections from Hernia Surgical Mesh
Of all the complications associated with hernia mesh repairs, infections are one of the most common. These infections are extremely dangerous, not only because they are difficult to detect, but also because they can cause a series of other complications, including spreading of the infection, illness or death. Some varieties of hernia mesh are more strongly associated with infections than others. If you have noticed pain, swelling, irritability, fever or any other signs of infection, you should consult a medical professional immediately.
When someone suffers complications from defective hernia surgical mesh, they might not realize that a faulty device is causing their illness. It is often only after they receive medical tests or treatment that they realize the root of the problem. Patients might be forced to connect the dots on their own, matching their medical history with their complications.
Infections require immediate treatment. If left unattended, an infection can spread throughout the body and have devastating effects on a patient.
Have You Experienced Complications from Hernia Surgical Mesh?
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with surgical mesh complications by a doctor or you believe that your condition has been caused by mesh used in a hernia surgery, you might be entitled to compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. Injuries caused by defective medical devices can lead to large medical bills, ongoing treatment and the worsening of a hernia. This can be painful and costly for someone who has already experienced a great deal of treatment for a hernia. A product liability claim can offer patients a path toward payment for the costs and damages suffered because of a faulty medical device.
It is not necessary for someone to know exactly what caused a hernia mesh complication to explore their legal options. An experienced attorney will investigate a client’s case to determine whether the type of mesh used was prone to error or the medical professionals acted negligently when treating the hernia. While these cases can be complicated, attorneys who are familiar with hernia mesh cases will know where to look, who to consult and how to maximize a client’s chances of a successful claim.
If you want to learn more about your legal options, contact the defective medical device attorneys at Pogust Goodhead to speak with our team. We will hold negligent manufacturers accountable for the injuries you have suffered. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
