Hernia Mesh Q&A
Victims of hernia mesh complications due to defective mesh products may find the following hernia mesh Q&A, or questions and answers, useful, courtesy of The Willis Law Firm:
Q. What is a hernia?
A. A hernia occurs when a weakness in the muscles or tissues of the abdominal wall allows organs or tissues to bulge or protrude outside the body. Such injuries can occur during pregnancy or due to lifting overly heavy objects or even from coughing violently. Hernias can be very painful and, if not treated with surgery, can enlarge and become worse.
Q. What is hernia mesh?
A. Hernia mesh is a flexible shield or patch composed of synthetic materials such as plastic-like polypropylene or animal tissue that’s placed over the spot of a hernia during hernia surgery during which the hernia opening is stitched together. Hernia mesh is intended to prevent such a hernia from happening again by repairing and bolstering the site. About 100,000 hernia mesh surgeries -- also called hernioplasty -- are done annually in the United States, and that means big money for mesh makers, since mesh products are among the biggest money-makers for medical device manufacturers.
Q. Are there alternatives to hernia mesh surgery?
A. Of course. While all hernias should be treated with surgery, not all hernia surgery must involve mesh. Rather than implanting defective mesh products in the body, a physician can repair the hernia solely with sutures, or stitches. Such surgery has a slightly higher rate of hernia recurrence (another hernia appearing in the same place) than mesh surgery, but it also has the benefit of not leading to the many hernia mesh complications which can arise from defective mesh. Any mesh surgery can be laparoscopic surgery, with multiple tiny incisions and using tiny instruments, or open surgery, with a 6- to 8-inch wide incision to open the abdomen.
Q. What are hernia mesh complications?
A. Hernia mesh complications or side effects are the injuries which can occur due to defects in hernia mesh products. Such injury-causing defects can include mesh erosion, when mesh material falls apart in the body, or mesh adhesion, when mesh adheres to other organs or tissues. Hernia mesh complications also can include bowel obstructions; severe infections, including systemic (full-body) infections; fever; rotting teeth; liver abnormalities; kidney failure; rashes; hernia recurrence; perforated organs; and other ailments.
Q. What is hernia mesh removal?
A. Hernia mesh removal is follow-up surgery in which defective hernia mesh is removed or extracted from the body. Such mesh may be replaced with another, alternative mesh product, although that, too, may cause injuries and is not necessarily advised. Hernia mesh repair surgery can be even more difficult, costly and painful than the original hernia surgery, but defective mesh products must be removed to reduce the risk of painful if not life-threatening hernia mesh side effects.
Q. What are some defective hernia mesh products?
A. Among defective hernia mesh products is Physiomesh, made by Ethicon, which is owned by Johnson & Johnson. Known to cause mesh injuries, Physiomesh was voluntarily withdrawn from the market without a hernia mesh recall being issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Other defective hernia mesh products include Kugel hernia mesh produced by Davol Inc., which is owned by C.R. Bard, Inc., and which became subject to mesh recalls starting in 2005. Also harmful can be the C-Qur composite mesh from Maquet, and formerly from Atrium. Many other defective mesh products from different manufacturers are among the 50-plus mesh brands remaining on the market.
Q. Have hernia mesh recalls been issued?
A. As noted, some manufacturers have voluntarily and quietly recalled their hernia mesh products from the market, though they tend to prefer the term “withdrawals” instead of “recalls.” The FDA has yet to issue formal hernia mesh recalls and has hastily approved many mesh products without the proper testing. When mesh products fail, manufacturers can take them off the market and replace them with comparable mesh products under a new name. Thus, hernia mesh complications remain rampant.
Q. What can victims of defective mesh do?
A. Victims of defective mesh products can assert their legal rights by claiming payments for their mesh injury losses via a hernia mesh lawsuit. If you or someone in your family was injured, The Willis Law Firm can provide such legal help and can seek payments for your medical and healthcare expenses, your lost present and future wages, and your pain and suffering. Contact The Willis Law Firm today for a free legal consultation toward a possible hernia mesh lawsuit for you and your family’s benefit.
Q. Hernia Mesh Lawsuit vs. Hernia Mesh Class Action Lawsuit or MDL ?
A. The answer to this question is up to you. By joining with others in a class action lawsuit or by having your own lawsuit grouped with others in multidistrict litigation, you could save some court costs and time in litigation. However, you may be able to collect far more in payments for a mesh injury lawsuit or settlement by means of an individual mesh lawsuit filed strictly on your behalf.
Q. Where can I get legal help for hernia mesh failure?
A. Right here. Contact The Willis Law Firm today for free legal advice via a consultation with no obligation to you. Then you can decide if you want to pursue a successful hernia mesh lawsuit.
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