Surgical hernia mesh is a medical implement commonly used to support the body during and after a surgery performed to fix a hernia – which is a tearing or protrusion of an internal organ or muscle. Hernia mesh has been utilized for many years, but can cause serious harm to patients, either due to medical malpractice or faulty mesh products. If you or a loved one suffered additional injury from the use of surgical hernia mesh, contact the personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP today.
Many hernia mesh products have been recalled or withdrawn from the market by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to their high failure rates and high occurrence of painful side effects, such as:
- Damage caused by shrinking, degrading (oxidizing) or migrating mesh products
- Blockages to intestines
- Autoimmune reactions or total rejection of the mesh by the body
- Failure to prevent reoccurrence of the hernia
- Development of fistulas – which are irregular connections made between organs that are intended to stay separated
- Further organ tears or perforations as a result of the mesh
If you or a loved one experienced any of these types of incidents, you may be entitled to financial compensation, which can help offset the costs of resulting medical expenses, make up for lost wages due to being unable to work during extended recovery times, or to simply keep your mind at ease about not making money while you get back to normal.
What exactly is hernia mesh?
Hernia mesh is most often made from synthetic material – most commonly polypropylene – which is manmade material that, for decades, has been marketed as a safe choice that will not degrade or otherwise cause harm once it is inside the body. However, scientific studies have begun to show evidence on the contrary and Physiomesh, one of the leading brands of polypropylene mesh – made by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon – was withdrawn from the market in 2016 for this reason.
Hernia mesh is intended to reduce the frequency of reoccurrence of a hernia – which occur most often following an injury involving high levels of strain on the body. Hernias can happen to anybody, and for a number of reasons, including:
- Advancing age causing weakness in organs and muscles
- Lifting of heavy objects
- Intense coughing or sneezing fits
- Pregnancy
- Complications related to obesity
- Poor nutritional health
- Pre-existing connective tissue disorders
Corrective hernia surgeries can be accomplished with or without the use of hernia surgical mesh, but utilization of the mesh is supposed to reduce the frequency in which a hernia could be reaggravated by holding the repair in place and giving it time to adequately heal. Unfortunately, the mesh comes with its own risks attached – and those risks can be amplified if a doctor exercises negligent medical malpractice in its application or if the mesh isn’t properly treated before being placed, which can result in oxidation and degradation of the material, causing issues like those mentioned earlier.
Let Altman & Altman LLP handle your hernia mesh case
With over 50 years of experience, there is no law firm more capable of handling your hernia mesh case than Altman & Altman. We have helped our clients in Cambridge, the Greater Boston Area and throughout Massachusetts navigate some of the most complex and challenging cases involving every different type of injury imaginable – and we have no fear going up against the big corporations to achieve the results that you deserve.
We strive to provide excellent customer service and take the time to get to know you and the specific details of your case, so we can provide the most comprehensive legal representation possible and achieve the goals that you set for us.
If you or a loved one experienced complications following an application of surgical hernia mesh, call us for a free consultation today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7 to hear the details of your case.