Three women, representing thousands of patients given defective vaginal mesh implants, have won a landmark class action against Johnson & Johnson.

The Federal Court on Thursday ruled that the global company misled customers about the risks linked to the devices, and was liable for the injuries caused to the women resulting from the surgery they underwent.

More than 90,000 women have been given the implants, purportedly designed to offer structural support to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

But hundreds, and possibly thousands, of women have suffered chronic and debilitating acute pain as the implants eroded and extruded.