Thousands of people each year suffer from a hernia, which is the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls. A ventral hernia is one that commonly occurs in the abdominal wall where the muscles have weakened, which can result in a bulge or a tear. According to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), approximately 350,000-500,000 ventral hernia repairs are performed each year in the United States.

Ethicon’s flexible composite hernia mesh device was commonly used in minimally invasive surgeries to repair abdominal hernias or other issues related to connective tissue beneath the skin that require a reinforcing or bridging material.

In May 2016, Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Division withdrew it’s flexible composite hernia mesh from the U.S. market after studies revealed complications associated with its use in minimally invasive hernia repairs. These studies indicated a much higher recurrence and revision rate from hernia repairs using hernia mesh compared to similar devices used for this type of procedure.

Ethicon was not able to determine the cause of the issue, and removed this product from the worldwide market. To learn more information about hernia mesh manufacturers, click here.

According to the American College of Surgeons, based on outcomes reported in the last ten years, there is typically a 4% chance a hernia can recur and a 2% risk of returning to surgery due to complications. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some of the adverse side effects reported for hernia repair surgery and associated with a hernia mesh device include infection, pain, intestinal complications, formation of a mass/lump/bulge, adhesions, vomiting, nausea, fever, redness, revision surgery, or recurrence of the hernia.  To learn more about the complications associated with hernia mesh, see our Complications page.

As a result, families are filing legal claims against the manufacturer since those who were affected by the recall claim the hernia mesh device used for hernia surgeries was defective and subjected patients to unnecessary risks. See our Lawsuits page for information on the lawsuits that have been settled and those still pending, as well as details on what you need to do if you have been injured and believe you may have a claim.

To learn more about hernia mesh, why it is used, and some of the consequences it has caused, click here.

If you suffered health problems after undergoing a hernia mesh procedure, then you may qualify for compensation. You may also qualify if you underwent a second surgery to correct a recurring hernia. Recovery may include past and future medical bills, lost wages, diminished quality of life, and pain and suffering.

To find out if you have a claim, please call Avram Blair & Associates P.C. at (800) 634-7490 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.