Theoretically, the effects of hernia mesh  repair could last for the rest of your life. In a mesh hernia repair, the surgeon places a patch over the hernia and fixes it in place. This mesh implant remains in place, and some types allow new tissue to grow and integrate into them.

However, all too often, complications related to the hernia mesh require surgeons to go back in and clean the implant or revise the repair. Removal is not usually possible. Symptoms of a complication can occur relatively quickly after a repair or take several months or even years. According to research published in The BMJ, some surgeons believe the complication rate could be as high as 12 to 30 percent.

Hernia mesh repairs are meant to be permanent, but complications often occur.

Understanding the Risk of Hernia Mesh Complications

Although using hernia mesh patches during repair procedures seems to reduce the risk of recurrence, it comes at a price. Hernia mesh is a foreign material implanted in the body, and as such, can cause a number of complications. This includes:

• Infection
• Wounds that are slow to heal or do not heal
• Seromas
• Chronic pain
• Bowel obstruction
• Chronic fistula development
• Other serious symptoms

To make matters worse, it is often impossible to remove a hernia mesh patch even when a patient suffers severe complications. As time passes, the mesh becomes more and more embedded in surrounding tissues. This affects how long hernia mesh repairs last. At the same time, according to a study published in JAMA in 2016, the risk of a mesh-related complication increases progressively.

Understanding Surgical Mesh Patches

Most surgical mesh used today for hernia repair is a synthetic, plastic material that looks like the screen you might find on a window or storm door. The other type of surgical mesh in use is made from animal tissue, typically pig or cow.

Animal-derived mesh patches absorb into the body over time. It degrades as the body's own tissues heal over the area where the hernia once was. It will not provide long-term support but will help provide a framework to help the body heal.

Synthetic mesh, however, is a permanent implant and is meant to remain in your body for the rest of your life. New tissue growth will occur around and into the patch, but it will continue to provide a strong reinforcement at the site where the hernia occurred. This also means that the longer it remains in your body, the more impossible it becomes to remove if you face complications.

Thousands of Plaintiffs File to Hold Mesh Manufacturers Liable for Their Complications

If you or a loved one suffered injuries and required additional treatment for complications related to implanted hernia mesh, you may be eligible to join thousands of others who are pursuing compensation from mesh manufacturers. Plaintiffs in these cases:

• Suffer chronic pain;
• Developed infections or other complications;
• Developed bowel obstructions;
• Required surgery to clean out infection or revise the repair;
• Underwent unsuccessful surgery to remove the mesh patch; or
• Suffer other problems related to mesh patch complications

At Tosi Law LLP, our defective medical device attorneys will review the facts of your case for free. If we believe you have a strong claim that you suffer ill effects because of a dangerous medical device such as a hernia mesh patch, we can pursue compensation on your behalf.

We may be able to go after a payout on your behalf by joining a mass tort already in progress or filing an individual lawsuit based on the facts of your case. Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is often a viable choice in this type of case.

MDL allows us to work with other victims of the same dangerous device for pre-trial motions and discovery. Then we continue to bellwether trials to learn how a jury will react to the strength of the case we built. Lastly, we return to our original jurisdiction for trial, if the company does not offer an out-of-court settlement first.

Talk to a Defective Medical Device Attorney About Your Hernia Mesh Repair Today

At Tosi Law LLP, our mass tort attorneys can help you understand your options if you suffered complications related to a hernia mesh implant. We understand how frustrating it is to suffer pain and rack up additional medical bills because of the actions of a medical device manufacturer. We can help you pursue compensation and try to hold the company who manufactured and marketed your hernia mesh patch liable for your injuries and expenses.

You could recover compensation that includes damages for medical care costs, lost wages, out-of-pocket costs, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages. Call us today at 888-311-8292 for a free review of your case and to learn more about how we can help you take legal action against the mesh manufacturer.

Related Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Mesh Bad For Hernia Repair?
• What Are the Symptoms of Hernia Mesh Failure?
• Can Hernia Mesh Be Removed Safely?
• What Are The Complications Of Hernia Mesh?
• How Long Does A Hernia Mesh Repair Last?