Reported Reactions

Devices › Mesh, surgical, polymeric

Device brand name · Mesh surgical polymeric

PROLENE POLYPROPYLENE Mesh: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,581 reports name it, 1997–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon. Product code FTL.

1,581
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 54 a year
52
reports, 12 months to August 2026
22 in the 12 months before
1.7%
classified as malfunction
2.5% across the product code
0.1%
classified as death, as reported
2 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 1,581 reports that name the brand "PROLENE POLYPROPYLENE Mesh" (mesh surgical polymeric), received between April 1997 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

52 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 136% from 22 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are injury (98.1%), malfunction (1.7%) and death (0.1%); across all mesh, surgical, polymeric reports (product code FTL) death is recorded in 0.5% and malfunction in 2.5%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are material erosion (62.2%), other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified) (10.4%) and migration or expulsion of device (3%). The patient problems coded most often are pain, surgical procedure and erosion. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

01631Sep 2021: 1Oct 2021: 7Nov 2021: 13Dec 2021: 22022Jan 2022: 8Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 2Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 6Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 1Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 7Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 1Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 2Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 0Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 4Nov 2023: 1Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 0Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 16Sep 2024: 1Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 42025Jan 2025: 4Feb 2025: 5Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 2Jun 2025: 1Jul 2025: 2Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 2May 2026: 31Jun 2026: 6Jul 2026: 5Aug 2026: 6

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

03787561997: 519971999: 42001: 32002: 1620022003: 62004: 82005: 920052006: 42007: 212008: 1320082009: 162010: 132011: 4320112012: 2262013: 7562014: 6920142015: 382016: 562017: 3420172018: 352019: 122020: 1220202021: 602022: 242023: 820232024: 242025: 142026: 522026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.1%2
Injury98.1%1,551
Malfunction1.7%27
Other0%0
Not given0.1%1

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%1,581
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 170,304 reports carrying product code FTL. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Material erosion98462.2%5.4%
Other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified)16410.4%2.2%
Migration or expulsion of device483%4%
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed110.7%1.6%
Device remains implanted80.5%0.8%
Reactiona reaction, type not specified70.4%0.1%
Tears, rips, holes in device, device material70.4%0.2%
Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label60.4%0.1%
Unsealed device packaging60.4%0%
Explanted50.3%1.6%
Implant extrusion30.2%0.3%
Tear, rip or hole in device packaging30.2%0.1%
Breakthe device broke20.1%0.4%
Improper or incorrect procedure or method20.1%0.1%
Insufficient device problem information20.1%26.3%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly10.1%1.2%
Device, or device fragments remain in patient10.1%0.1%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove10.1%0.1%
Hole in material10.1%0.1%
Implant, repositioning of10.1%0%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Painpain, site not specified1,16873.9%
Surgical procedure1,07467.9%
Erosion1,04766.2%
Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified)51132.3%
Scar tissue24415.4%
Bleeding20312.8%
Incontinence1338.4%
Hernia925.8%
Adhesion(s)905.7%
Neurological deficit/dysfunction845.3%
Inflammationinflammation684.3%
Fistula593.7%
Internal organ perforation583.7%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available563.5%
Extrusion493.1%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasurePROLENE POLYPROPYLENE MeshProduct code FTLAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,581170,30426,136,888
Share of that pool—0.9%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports159
Classified as injury98.1%96.5%36.2%
Classified as malfunction1.7%2.5%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%97.4%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code FTL

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Bard Flat Mesh8,2991100.5%
PerFix Plug8,2561670.3%
Parietex6,3043201%
Ventralight ST Mesh5,8131060.5%
Obtryx System6,03110%
Ventralex ST5,3651010.4%
Tension Free Vaginal Tape9,35500.1%
Mesh Ventralex4,66150.4%
3DMax3,9711550.1%
ProGrip3,8204120.8%
Proceed Surg Mesh/Multi Lyr3,199290%
Mesh Sofradim - Parietex Composite Mesh2,946161.5%
Advantage? System3,537130%
Ventrio ST2,751510.7%
Symbotex2,7411901.2%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about PROLENE POLYPROPYLENE Mesh reports

How many FDA reports name PROLENE POLYPROPYLENE Mesh?

1,581 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 52 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (98.1%), malfunction (1.7%) and death (0.1%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

material erosion (62.2%), other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified) (10.4%), migration or expulsion of device (3%), migration (0.7%) and device remains implanted (0.5%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that PROLENE POLYPROPYLENE Mesh was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.