Lawsuits have been filed against Arizant Healthcare, a subsidiary of 3M, over the Bair Hugger device. The lawsuits state that the use of the Bair Hugger during surgery drastically increases the patient’s risk of developing a serious periprosthetic joint infection because of the way the device redeposits potentially contaminated air over the surgical site. The Bair Hugger is a forced-air patient warming system that is used in an estimated four out of five hospitals, and about ninety percent of joint replacement surgeries in the United States.
If you have had a hip or knee replacement within the last ten years and developed a serious staph infection–like MRSA in the joint–you may have a claim.
Attorneys Fred Pritzker, David Szerlag, and their team can help you with your personal injury claim against Bair Hugger. They have significant experience in this area, recently winning $45 million for clients injured by another medical product manufactured by another company.
What is Bair Hugger?
The Bair Hugger is a medical device that is used to keep the patient’s body warm during surgery. It is classified as a “forced-air warming system” because it pumps warm air through a warming blanket draped or the patient. An anesthetized patient (person ‘put under’ for surgery) is unable to regulate their body temperature while under anesthesia, therefore running the risk of inadvertently slipping into a hypothermic state. By keeping the person on the operating table warm doctors are able to prevent hypothermia, which constricts the blood vessels and inhibits blood flow causing a slew of complications including longer postoperative recovery time and hospital stay.
The Bair Hugger lawsuits allege that the manner in which the device heats the air creates convection currents that disturb the one-directional airflow. This in-turn can stir up bacteria and other contaminants and redirect them to the surgical site. As a result, patients have an elevated risk of developing serious infections like MRSA. Those at some of the highest risks for infection are patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, particularly hip and knee replacements.
Some of the signs of an infected knee or hip include:
- Excess swelling
- Warm to the touch and redness around the joint
- Wound drainage
- Cycles of fever, chills, and night sweats
- Pain and stiffness
As a result of this infection, the implant may need to be removed, which can cause major distress to the person and their loved ones.
How can a lawsuit help?
A lawsuit is a way to obtain justice and to hold corporations accountable. It can help you obtain compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. A lawsuit can also help answer your questions like these:
- How do I know if the infection in my knee/hip was caused by the Bair Hugger?
- Can I get compensation if I already had revision surgery?
- Can I sue 3M or the hospital?
- Will my surgeon help me with my lawsuit against Bair Hugger?
- How long will it take for me to get compensation?
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and David Szerlag have vast experience handling defective medical product cases, and have recovered millions on behalf of their clients whose lives have been disrupted by defective devices. If you or a loved one suffered an infection in the joint after knee or hip replacement surgery our lawyers can help, call 1-888-377-8900 or fill out a FREE consultation form.