Bard 3DMax mesh is a curved polypropylene mesh used to repair inguinal (groin) hernias, which mostly occur in men. People who received a 3DMax mesh have filed claims alleging that it shrank, folded, migrated into the spermatic cord and caused chronic groin pain, testicular injury and repeated surgeries. If you had a 3DMax mesh and suffered severe complications, you may have a claim for compensation.
What Is Bard 3DMax Mesh?
3DMax is made by Bard through its Davol subsidiary. It is a pre-shaped, three-dimensional polypropylene mesh with a curved, cupped design meant to fit the anatomy of the groin, and it is often placed laparoscopically. The line includes the original 3DMax Mesh and the lighter-weight 3DMax Light Mesh. In December 2008, Bard recalled one lot of 232 large left 3DMax meshes because the packages could contain a right-side mesh instead. That limited labeling recall is unrelated to the complications alleged in the lawsuits, and 3DMax is one of the Bard products named in the Bard hernia mesh litigation.
3DMax Complications
People with 3DMax mesh have reported complications including:
- Chronic groin or pelvic pain, including burning pain
- The mesh shrinking, hardening or folding over on itself
- The mesh migrating into or attaching to the spermatic cord
- Testicular pain, and in some cases loss of a testicle during removal surgery
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Hernia recurrence
- Revision surgery to remove the mesh
What the Lawsuits Allege
The lawsuits allege that the polypropylene in 3DMax degrades inside the body, shrinking and becoming brittle, so that the curved mesh does not hold its shape and can fold, migrate and press on nerves and the spermatic cord. They also allege that the sealed outer edge of the mesh can come loose and that Bard failed to warn surgeons and patients about these risks.
Where the 3DMax Lawsuits Stand
3DMax claims are part of the Bard hernia mesh litigation: the federal multidistrict litigation, In re: Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2846, before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. in the Southern District of Ohio, and the consolidated cases in Rhode Island state court.
In October 2024, Bard’s parent company, Becton, Dickinson and Company, announced an agreement to resolve the vast majority of its hernia mesh lawsuits. The terms are confidential, and payments are being made over several years. The Bard MDL is still open, with 23,324 pending cases as of October 1, 2026, and new claims are still being filed.
Because of the global settlement, new Bard claims must meet newer and more demanding procedures. Among other steps, a newly filed case must produce the medical records identifying the mesh within 60 days of service of the complaint in the MDL and a report from a licensed physician tying the injuries to the mesh within 90 days, or it can be dismissed. For that reason, we are still reviewing select Bard claims with severe injuries, such as multiple revision surgeries, extended hospitalization or bowel damage. For the latest, see our Bard hernia mesh lawsuit update.
Who May Have a 3DMax mesh Claim
You may have a claim if:
- Your hernia repair used a Bard 3DMax mesh, which your operative report will show
- You have had severe complications, such as two or more revision surgeries, an extended hospital stay, or bowel damage like an obstruction, perforation, fistula or bowel resection
Every state sets a deadline, called the statute of limitations, for filing a claim, and it often runs from when you knew or should have known your injury was related to the mesh. Doyle APC has handled Bard hernia mesh claims for over a decade, and you pay nothing unless we win. Compensation can cover medical expenses, past and future, along with pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and a spouse’s loss of consortium.
Other Bard mesh claims involve Ventralex and Ventralight ST, PerFix Plug, Composix and Kugel and Sepramesh mesh. You can also read more about hernia mesh complications.
Common Questions
Has Bard 3DMax mesh been recalled?
Only in a limited way. In December 2008, Bard recalled one lot of 232 large left 3DMax meshes because the packages could contain a right-side mesh. That labeling recall had nothing to do with the complications alleged in the lawsuits, and 3DMax is one of the Bard products named in the Bard hernia mesh litigation. You may have a claim even though your mesh was not recalled for those problems.
Can 3DMax mesh affect the spermatic cord?
People with 3DMax mesh have reported the mesh migrating into or attaching to the spermatic cord, causing pain and sometimes requiring surgery that can result in loss of a testicle.
Is 3DMax part of the Bard hernia mesh settlement?
Yes. 3DMax claims are part of the Bard litigation that was largely resolved by the October 2024 settlement. New claims must meet strict court requirements.
Can I still file a Bard hernia mesh claim?
Yes. The Bard MDL is still open and new claims are still being filed, but new claims must meet strict requirements, including a physician’s report within 90 days of service of the complaint. That is why we are reviewing select Bard claims with severe injuries.
What counts as a severe Bard hernia mesh injury?
Severe injuries include multiple revision surgeries, an extended hospital stay, and bowel damage such as an obstruction, perforation, fistula or bowel resection.