If you’ve experienced an injury due to a hernia repair surgery, you may wish to join the growing number of Strattice hernia mesh lawsuits. According to Strattice mesh lawsuit claims, the design of this apparatus increases your risk of harm due to a wide variety of complications.
So far, many deaths and hundreds more injuries have been connected to the Strattice hernia mesh. If you or a loved one think you may have been injured due to Strattice mesh, learn more about federal recalls and warnings and your options for recovering damages.
What is Strattice Mesh and How Is It Used for Hernia Repair and Surgery?
To understand Strattice mesh, it’s important to first look at the surgical mesh, how it was designed, and why Strattice mesh replaced it.
Surgical mesh has been around for several decades and was used in surgical repair settings as early as the 1950s. It looks like firm gauze with small horizontal and vertical lines interlocking to form a screen-like sheet. The synthetic mesh material used back then was polypropylene. Creators of surgical mesh found that this material was strong enough to reinforce weak or damaged internal tissue to allow hernia repair surgeries.
However, many patients had problems with the polypropylene substance. Because it was a synthetic substance and the body recognized it as a foreign entity, patients reported various claims of injury. Consequently, developers came up with a new way to make the mesh using biological materials like animal tissue.
Thus, the Strattice hernia mesh was developed using disinfected pig skin to assist with soft tissue repair. This was considered a suitable implantable source. Much of the animal tissue is absorbable, meaning the body breaks it down by its own enzymatic reactions or hydrolysis. The mesh is preserved using a phosphate buffered aqueous solution. Some of the Strattice hernia mesh is non-absorbable and will stay in the body indefinitely. The Strattice mesh is often referred to as a cross-linked graft device.
Unfortunately, the biological component of the Strattice hernia mesh also caused complications as it broke down in the body, resulting in numerous injuries.
Strattice Mesh Complications and Injuries
Some of the potential complications and injuries that occur with the use of the Strattice Reconstructive Tissue Matrix result from the biological material composition and mesh design. These issues result in the following potential resulting injuries:
- Mesh erosion: This involves the mesh material breaking down, which leads to tissue exposure. This causes irritation, pain and may lead to infection.
- Mesh migration: The Strattice hernia mesh may also move away from the original position and relocate to a new one, which can result in severe pain. It may also damage surrounding tissues or organs.
- Strattice mesh contraction: It’s possible for the Strattice mesh to shrink or contract. As a result, the patient may have limited mobility.
- Infection: Symptoms of an infection include fever, chills, and discharge from the surgical site.
Other potential injuries that have been reported by patients receiving a Strattice hernia mesh include the following:
- Internal bleeding
- Bowel obstruction
- Bowel perforation
- Abdominal swelling
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Organ punctures
- Nerve damage
- Hernia recurrence
- Adhesions
- Abscess
- Death
Due to the complications of this product, many people have filed a Strattice mesh lawsuit. Enough people have filed lawsuits over the product for a multi county litigation to have been established in October 2021.
Strattice Mesh Recall and FDA Warnings
There have been thousands of hernia mesh products recalled by manufacturers, most of which were from 2005 and February 2019. The specific Strattice hernia mesh products recalled include the following:
- Atrium Medical C-QUR Mesh
- Bard Composix Kugel Hernia Patch
- Parietex Composite Parastomal Mesh
- Gentrix Surgical Matrix
- Ethicon Proceed Surgical Mesh
- Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh (taken off the market, not recalled)
The three companies with the most recalled hernia mesh products were Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit (this was a voluntary market withdrawal, not a recall), C.R. Bard and Atrium.
Most products were designated by the FDA as a Class II Device Recall, which means the person may suffer a reversible or temporary adverse health condition. There were also a limited number of Class 1 recalls, which had more serious consequences.
Can You Seek Damages in a Strattice Hernia Mesh Lawsuit
If you experienced any of the above-mentioned injuries or any other problems due to hernia mesh, you should consult with a qualified attorney to determine what your options for compensation are. A Strattice hernia mesh lawyer can help you file a claim for the damages you’ve incurred.
Some of the potential damages you may have in a Strattice mesh claim are the following:
Economic Damages
- Medical care expenses, including additional surgeries.
- Prescription medication.
- In-home health care, if necessary.
- Loss of income if you need to be out of work.
- Permanent or partial disability.
Non-Economic Damages
In addition to these damages, your attorney can assist you with filing for non-economic damages. These are for emotional harm that results from the injury. Non-economic damages in Strattice mesh lawsuits may include:
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish.
- Loss of enjoyment in doing certain activities due to pain.
- Loss of consortium.
- Loss of career opportunities due to being out of work.
If a loved one dies from the Strattice mesh, you can seek compensation for wrongful death.
Deadline to File an Injury Lawsuit in California
You will need to ensure that you file a claim for injuries by the due date in California. The due date for filing a personal injury claim in California is found in California’s statute of limitations. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 allows injured parties two years from the date of the incident to file their claim for damages. It’s best to consult with an attorney about the timeframe to ensure there are any exceptions in your case.
Seek Counsel from a Strattice Hernia Mesh Attorney
If you or a loved one has experienced complications and injuries due to a Strattice mesh apparatus used during hernia surgery, it’s helpful to seek legal advice promptly. A Strattice hernia mesh lawyer can assess your situation and provide a free consultation about potential compensation owed to you. An attorney can help negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
At Nadrich & Cohen, our experienced defective medical device attorneys are experienced in handling injury cases that involve serious complications. We work closely with our clients to expedite the case to their satisfaction. Get in touch with one of our lawyers today for a case evaluation.
