C.R. Bard/Davol settled 3,000 lawsuits over recalled Kugel Mesh Patch. In recent years, lawsuits were filed after Ethicon pulled Physiomesh off the market. A recall was also issued for Atrium C-QUR Hernia Patch coated in fish oil (Omega-3).
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ethicon Physiomesh, Atrium C-QUR Mesh, and other hernia mesh injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by a recalled hernia patch, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Hernia Recurrence
Hernias occur when a weak spot in a muscle or connective tissue allows organs, intestines, or tissues to protrude. During surgery to repair a hernia, mesh patches are sometimes stitched into the abdominal wall to prevent the hernia from re-opening (called “recurrence“).
What is the problem?
The problem is that some types of surgical mesh work better than others. When the mesh fails and the hernia recurs, the only treatment option is another surgery. With each surgery, the odds of permanently closing the hernia go down.
Atrium C-QUR Hernia Patch Recall
Atrium Medical Corp. issued a recall for C-QUR Hernia Patch in June 2013 because high humidity and moisture could cause the fish oil coating to peel off and stick to the inside of the package. Some lawyers question whether a similar risk exists in the human body.
C-QUR Hernia Patch is coated in fish oil (Omega-3), which is advertised as an “anti-adhesion barrier” to prevent scar-tissues that stick abdominal organs together abnormally during the healing process. Instead, more than 15 lawsuits claim it causes inflammation and infections.
There are many reports of patients who developed foreign body reactions to the Omega-3 hernia patch. These reactions cause chronic pain, inflammation, and stimulate the growth of scar tissue. In some reports, patients developed dense adhesions around the mesh.
Ethicon Physiomesh Hernia Patch
In May 2016, Ethicon pulled all unused stock of the Physiomesh hernia patch off the market worldwide. The company issued a Field Safety Notice (PDF) to surgeons with a list of affected products. Two large studies in Germany and Denmark found higher rates of hernia recurrence and re-operation in patients with Physiomesh vs. similar products. Ethicon said the issue was “multi-factorial” and decided to stop selling Physiomesh rather than try to fix the problem.
Was Physiomesh Recalled?
Ethicon Inc. issued a recall for Physiomesh Composite Mesh in Europe and Australia. However, inside the U.S., the action was called a “market withdrawal” rather than a recall. This is why the FDA did not issue a safety warning to patients or doctors in the United States.
Physiomesh Lawsuits
Ethicon is facing several lawsuits from people who were injured by Physiomesh. One lawsuit (PDF) was filed in April 2016 by a man from Illinois who developed two abscesses and an intestinal fistula when Physiomesh became infected. His case is set for trial in January 2018 — Case No. 3:16-cv-00368.
Another Physiomesh lawsuit (PDF) was filed in September 2016 by a woman who says Physiomesh became embedded in her intestines, caused chronic pain, and could not be removed because it was stuck to her abdominal wall — Case No: 6:16-cv-01663.
Hernia Mesh Side Effects
- Chronic pain
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Abscesses (may be delayed)
- Hernia recurrence
- Scar-like tissue that sticks tissues together (adhesion)
- Intestinal obstruction or perforation
- Organ damage
- Mesh migration, shrinkage, erosion into tissues
- Foreign body reaction
- Body rejects mesh implant
- Needing another surgery
Do I have a Hernia Patch Recall Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ethicon Physiomesh, Atrium C-QUR Mesh, and other hernia mesh injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by a recalled hernia patch, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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