Raizner Slania has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a South Carolina couple against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare after the husband suffered an infection from the Bair Hugger warming blanket.
In February 2014, the plaintiff underwent a left total knee replacement in which the Bair Hugger was used throughout the scope of the procedure. Because most patients experience hypothermia during surgery, the Bair Hugger warming blanket is used to regulate body temperature. While regulating body temperature can help reduce bleeding risks and shorten hospital stays, a defect in the Bair Hugger’s design allows contaminated air to be pushed into a patient’s open surgical wound, causing infections.
During the plaintiff’s surgery, contaminants were introduced into the his open surgical wound that caused him to develop a deep joint infection or DJI. The pathogen identified was Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and a rare gram positive cocci.
MSSA is a type of the common Staph infection that can naturally be found on the skin or in the nose. However, when MSSA is introduced into an open surgical wound, it can lead to severe and potentially fatal infections. MSSA can cause a variety of dangerous complications like septicemia or infection of the blood.
MSSA can be extremely difficult to treat when it causes a deep joint infection. While the presence of bacteria usually triggers the body’s immune system response, if the infection is present on an artificial joint it will not trigger a response.
As a result of the infection caused by the Bair Hugger, the plaintiff was forced to undergo knee aspiration, extensive irrigation and debridement with hardware exchange, and long-term PICC line antibiotic therapy.
The plaintiff has suffered severely from the infection both physically and financially with the cost of extensive medical treatment. The South Carolina couple asserts 3M and Arizant failed to warn them of the infection risks associated with the device and that the device is defective in design and manufacture.
Bair Hugger Infection Attorneys
If you or someone you love suffered an infection after a hip or knee joint surgery, you may able to obtain compensation for your injuries. The experienced Bair Hugger infection attorneys at Raizner Slania can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation on your behalf. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
