Surgeon implanting hernia mesh during surgery — image related to defective hernia mesh complications and legal claims in Chicago.

Hernia Mesh Attorney

Surgical mesh is used to strengthen damaged tissue in hernia repairs. However, defective hernia mesh can cause serious health complications, including severe pain, infections, and damage to internal organs.

If you have experienced complications after undergoing hernia mesh surgery, a defective design, manufacture, or placement of the hernia mesh implant could be the cause. You may be entitled to seek compensation from the mesh manufacturer or other liable parties for the medical complications you suffered. The legal team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is ready to help you evaluate your legal options and seek accountability.

Our 20-plus litigators and more than 35 support staff have the skills, experience, and resources to tackle the most challenging injury cases. We have a proven track record of advocating for those who have been injured and have recovered over $2.5 billion for our clients, including the largest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual plaintiff in Illinois history. Please contact us today for a free hernia mesh claim evaluation and learn how an experienced hernia mesh lawyer in Chicago can help you pursue the justice you deserve.

What Is Hernia Mesh?

Hernia mesh is a medical device implanted during hernia surgery to support weakened or damaged tissues that lead to a hernia. Hernias occur when one of your organs or fatty tissue bulges through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Hernias can also occur in the inner or upper thigh and the groin area.

When a hernia develops, doctors may recommend surgical repair using a mesh. Hernia meshes may contain animal tissue or synthetic materials. Animal tissue-based meshes will eventually absorb into the body, providing temporary support as the body grows new muscle or connective tissue to restore strength to the damaged area. Meshes made from synthetic materials are produced in absorbable and non-absorbable forms. Non-absorbable synthetic meshes remain in the body indefinitely, providing permanent reinforcement to the site of the hernia. However, the polypropylene hernia mesh may degrade over time, leading to hernia mesh complications and potentially requiring hernia revision surgery.

Injuries and Dangers Associated with Defective Hernia Mesh

While surgical meshes remain a standard treatment option for repairing hernias, some hernia mesh products have become the subject of manufacturer recalls after patients began experiencing post-operative complications. A defectively designed or manufactured hernia mesh device can cause complications such as:

  • Pain
  • Bacterial infections
  • Inflammation and swelling of the surrounding tissue
  • Internal bleeding
  • Nerve damage
  • Muscle weakness
  • Bowel obstructions
  • Formation of scar tissue between tissues (such as muscles) and organs
  • Fluid buildup at the mesh site
  • Mesh migration or shifting from the original implant site
  • Mesh contraction/shrinkage
  • Hernia mesh failure
  • Organ damage, such as bowel perforation
  • Liver and kidney problems
  • Sexual dysfunction

Complications from hernia meshes can cause severe chronic pain (including abdominal, groin, or testicular pain), dangerous infections, significant organ or tissue damage, and recurrence or aggravation of the original hernia injury. Patients who suffer complications after a hernia mesh implantation may require revision surgery to repair, remove, or replace the defective hernia mesh.

Hernia Mesh Recalls

Several hernia mesh manufacturers, including C.R. Bard, Inc., Davol, Inc., Ethicon, Inc., Covidien, and Atrium Medical Corp., have recalled various models of surgical meshes after statistically significant numbers of patients reported complications following hernia repair surgery.

Many patients required revision surgery to replace defective hernia mesh implants. Notable hernia mesh recalls in recent decades include:

  • Manufacturer recall of Atrium Medical Corp. C-QUR hernia meshes
  • FDA Class I recall for the Versatex Monofilament hernia mesh manufactured by Sofradim Products
  • Manufacturer recall of the Johnson & Johnson Physiomesh flexible composite mesh
  • Manufacturer recall of the Ethicon Proceed and Physiomesh hernia meshes
  • Manufacturer recall of the Parietex Composite Parastomal Mesh
  • FDA Class I recall in 2006 for Kugel mesh hernia patches manufactured by C.R. Bard

A hernia mesh recall may indicate a potential defect with the mesh, making it unsuitable for medical treatment. Mesh defects include:

  • Design defects: A design defect means a mesh product has an inherent flaw in the product’s design specifications that makes it unsafe or unsuitable.
  • Manufacturing defect: A manufacturing defect may result from a problem during the mesh’s fabrication process that causes it to fail to conform to the design specifications (such as using substandard materials or inadequate disinfection procedures), leading to a mesh failure.
  • Failure to warn/improper labeling: The FDA may recall a hernia mesh product when the manufacturer fails to adequately warn doctors and patients about the risk of using the mesh product.

Compensation Available in Hernia Mesh Lawsuits

If you suffered severe complications due to a mesh defect following surgery, you may have a claim against the mesh manufacturer. In a hernia mesh lawsuit, you can demand compensation for your losses, such as:

  • Costs of medical bills for additional medical treatment, including revision surgery, hernia recurrence, pain medication, and antibiotics to treat infections
  • Long-term care expenses if your complications cause permanent impairments that require assistive equipment or in-home medical/personal assistance
  • Lost wages for the weeks or months of work you missed due to serious complications from defective mesh
  • Lost future earning capacity if chronic pain or impairment restricts you from working
  • Physical pain and anguish
  • Emotional trauma or distress due to pain, impairments, or the prospect of additional surgical procedures
  • Loss of quality of life due to impairments to bodily functions or scarring and disfigurement from additional surgeries

Hire a Chicago Hernia Mesh Attorney

If you’ve suffered serious injuries from defective hernia mesh products, you are not alone. Numerous patients have experienced complications, and a large number of hernia mesh lawsuits have been consolidated in multi-district litigation to handle the cases more efficiently.

Medical device manufacturers have a legal obligation to produce surgical mesh products that are safe for internal use and to disclose any known hazards associated with them. Filing a hernia mesh lawsuit may be beneficial if you have sustained severe injuries from mesh implants. You may have the right to pursue hernia mesh litigation and seek a hernia mesh settlement.

Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a hernia mesh attorney in Chicago. Our law firm has extensive experience filing product liability lawsuits involving defective medical devices and holding medical device companies financially accountable. Please contact our hernia mesh lawsuit lawyers to discuss your legal options for seeking full and fair compensation.