Raizner Slania LLP has filed a Bair Hugger infection lawsuit on behalf of a Utah couple against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare. The couple alleges the companies failed to warn them of the infection risk associated with the device.
In January 2017, the husband underwent surgery in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the course and scope of his right total knee replacement. The Bair Hugger introduced contaminants into the plaintiff’s open surgical wound that caused him to develop a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), also known as a deep joint infection. The pathogen identified was Staphylococcus aureus.
Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as a Staph infection, is a serious infection that can cause life-threatening complications. While Staph bacteria can safely appear on parts of normal human skin, when it enters into the body it can cause sepsis, pneumonia, endocarditis or the infection of heart valves, and osteomyelitis or a bone infection.
As a result of the infection caused by the Bair Hugger, the plaintiff was forced to undergo extensive medical treatment, including multi-staged revision and replacement surgeries including resection of the right total knee arthroplasty with antibiotic cement spacer placement and an incision revision, placement of a revised knee arthroplasty, and PICC line antibiotics. Despite this extensive treatment, the plaintiff still required ongoing physical therapy and home health assistance. The plaintiff may also require additional treatments in the future.
The Bair Hugger is composed of two parts: a machine that sucks in air and heats it and a blanket with holes that is draped over the patient. The heated air gets pushed into the blanket and out of the holes, delivering warm air to the patient’s body to help regulate body temperature during surgery. While medically helpful, this process also allows contaminants in the operating room air to be introduced into a patient’s open surgical wound.
The Utah couple believes the Bair Hugger device is defective in both its design and manufacture. The couple also alleges 3M and Arizant committed consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under Utah state law.
Get Help With Your Bair Hugger Infection Claim
If you underwent a hip or knee surgery within the last five years and developed an infection, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the Bair Hugger manufacturers. Contact Raizner Slania LLP today for a free consultation regarding your Bair Hugger infection claim.
