Hernia Mesh

Hernia Mesh Lawyers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than one million people undergo procedures to repair hernias each year in the United States. The use of a medical device known as “hernia mesh” (sometimes called “hernia patch”) began to grow significantly in the 1980s, to the point where most hernia repairs are performed using hernia mesh. The benefits of using mesh to make these repairs include a significant reduction in the number of hernias that return, which was a problem in the past when surgeons used more traditional techniques.

MA and RI Attorneys Helping People Injured by Hernia Mesh Devices. Free Consultation.

Although the introduction of mesh or patches to repair hernias has reduced the number of repeat hernia operations, the mesh products also can create new medical problems in patients. A number of these problems are caused by defects in the design, manufacture, or marketing of the devices. The attorneys at Brian Cunha & Associates help people who suffered injury or illness due to the use of a mesh product to repair a hernia. With offices in East Providence, New Bedford and Fall River, our law firm serves injured clients in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and throughout the United States. Contact us if you or someone you love was injured by a defective medical device such as hernia mesh. We offer free consultations.

Problems Caused by Hernia Patch or Mesh

Patients who undergo hernia repair with a defective mesh or patch device can experience complications such as:

Infections
Fistulas
Fluid collection, or seromas
Nerve damage
Chronic and acute pain
Scars
Adhesions
Hernia recurrence
Organ damage
Allergic reactions
Mesh migration within the body
Bowel obstructions
Perforations
Bulging

Complications such as these may require additional surgeries, lengthy treatment with prescription medications, permanent scarring, organ failure, and other significant consequences. A patient’s life may be turned upside down. At our law firm, we help people injured by mesh or patch defects obtain financial compensation for their injuries, expenses, and damages. Patients who receive such compensation can begin to put their lives back together and recover from the damage caused by defective hernia mesh.

Recalled Hernia Mesh Products

Several mesh and patch devices have been recalled because of the injuries they caused. These include:

Atrium Medical C-QUR and PROLITE mesh
Bard Composix Kugel hernia patch
Parietex composite parastomal mesh
Ethicon Proceed surgical mesh
Gentrix surgical matrix
Versatex monofilament mesh

In addition, medical device companies have also voluntarily withdrawn hernia mesh products from the market. These companies include Ethicon, which withdrew its Physiomesh flexible composite mesh product in 2016 because studies showed higher hernia recurrences and more revision surgeries than in comparable products. If you had one of the products listed here implanted to repair a hernia and it is causing problems, consult the lawyers at the law firm of Brian Cunha and Associates for a free consultation about your eligibility to seek compensation.

Signs That a Hernia Mesh or Patch is Causing Problems

People sometimes have no medical problems immediately after a doctor uses the mesh or patch to repair a hernia. In fact, some people have no problems until five or ten years after receiving a mesh hernia repair. Whether an issue arises soon after surgery or years later, patients can experience symptoms of a mesh or patch problem such as:

Pain at the surgery site
Inflammation or swelling at the surgical site or nearby
Pain when walking, sitting or sleeping
Pain when ejaculating
Pain during sexual intercourse
Pins-and-needles or tingling sensations
Pain that spreads or radiates from the surgical site or nearby
Shooting pains
Testicle pain
Tugging or pulling sensation when moving
Bleeding or hemorrhaging

Some patients experience a generalized feeling that something is wrong somewhere in their bodies. This is particularly common before a patient suspects a problem with a mesh implant.

Why Hernia Patch or Mesh Devices Cause Problems in Some Patients

People ask why a medical device such as a hernia mesh or patch causes further medical problems in some patients. Most problems with hernia mesh are the result of the mesh itself, rather than the technique of the surgeon who implants it. The most common issues with hernia mesh are allergic or inflammatory reactions to the materials in the mesh itself and trapping of nerves within the mesh. Reactions to mesh products made with polypropylene are particularly common, as is nerve pain resulting from nerves growing into the mesh months or years after implantation.

Other causes of problems with hernia repair using mesh include:

Mesh erosion: Mesh that causes an inflammatory reaction can break down o erode and become disconnected from its original site
Mesh migration: Mesh that moves in the body from its original site can invade organs, such as the bladder and testes
Scar tissue: Usually the result of ongoing inflammation or infection, excessive scar tissue can cause erosion and migration of the mesh
Mesh shrinkage: Mesh shrinks considerably in the first five years after it is used to repair a hernia, causing pulling and tugging on the nerves and surrounding tissues

When problems like these occur, doctors may try to remove the mesh to relieve patients’ symptoms. Unfortunately, if the mesh has reattached itself in another place or has become entangled with the nerves, it may be impossible to remove all the mesh material during a revision surgery. This means that the patient’s pain and suffering could be permanent. Patients such as these may become dependent on pain killers so they can live with the condition.

Injured by Hernia Mesh? Our Mass. and RI Law Firm Can Help. Free Consultation.

If your doctor has told you that your symptoms and pain are the result of a mesh product used to repair a hernia, learn about your legal options. Talk to the lawyers at Brian Cunha & Associates to find out if your injuries qualify you for legal action against the manufacturer. Remember, even if the mesh product your surgeon used was not recalled, you still may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Make an appointment in East Providence, Fall River, or New Bedford to speak with a knowledgeable defective products attorney. The consultation is free. Call toll-free 800-322- 8300.