Hernia

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ or fatty tissue bulges through a weak area in the muscle wall that normally holds it in place. The most common type is the inguinal hernia in the groin. Others include umbilical hernias at the belly button, incisional hernias at the site of an earlier surgery, and hiatal hernias, where the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm.

Hernias are common. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that about 27 percent of men and 3 percent of women will develop an inguinal hernia at some point in their lives. Many hernias are repaired with surgery, especially if they cause pain or risk trapping a loop of intestine.

Why the term shows up in lawsuits: most hernia repairs now use surgical mesh, a screen-like implant that reinforces the weak spot. The FDA says the most common problems after hernia repair, with or without mesh, include pain, infection, hernia recurrence, adhesions, and bowel obstruction. Some mesh products, especially certain polypropylene and coated designs, have been the subject of recalls and thousands of lawsuits alleging they were defective and caused chronic pain, infection, migration, or additional surgeries. Federal courts consolidated many of these claims into multidistrict litigation.

If you had a hernia repair and later needed revision surgery, the key records are the operative report (which names the mesh product and lot) and records of later complications. See our hernia mesh lawsuit page and what is MDL. This page is general information, not medical advice.