Bair Hugger joint infection investigation

Bair Hugger joint infections: Who’s affected?

Did you or a loved one undergo surgery, use a Bair Hugger warming blanket during that surgery, and subsequently suffer from a joint infection?

The 3M Bair Hugger forced-air warmer blanket is often used in hospitals to regulate the body temperature of patients undergoing hip replacement or knee replacement surgery.

However, these forced-air warmers may put joint replacement patients at risk of dangerous complications, such as deep joint infections.

These Bair Hugger joint infections may require significant treatment, including:

• Hospitalization
• Additional surgeries
• Joint implant removal and revision
• Physical therapy
• Placement of an antibiotic spacer in the infected joint
• Intravenous antibiotic treatment
• Amputation

Bair Hugger forced-air warmer

Keeping patients warm during surgery has been shown to reduce bleeding and improve recovery time. The Bair Hugger is a disposable blanket connected to a portable heater that blows hot air on the patient’s skin, helping patients under anesthesia regulate their body temperature. When the Bair Hugger was introduced to the market in 1988, it profoundly impacted surgical practices.

However, the Bair Hugger may pose the risk of dangerous complications for patients who receive hip replacements, knee replacements, or other joint implants. A growing number of lawsuits allege that forced air may spread bacteria into the surgical site, putting patients at risk for deep joint infections.

Studies of forced-air warmers, including the Bair Hugger, have not conclusively determined that they cause surgical site infections (“SSIs”), but the studies raise concerns about their potential risks.

Research on forced-air warming blowers

A 2011 study, “Forced-air warming blowers: An evaluation of filtration adequacy and airborne contamination emissions in the operating room,” published in the American Journal of Infection Control, found 58% of the forced-air warmers studied (including the Bair Hugger) emitted airborne contaminants. High contamination levels can cause an infection when dealing with a hip or knee replacement.

Moreover, several studies show that the Bair Hugger’s forced air significantly disrupts the ultra-clean airflow used in operating rooms. These studies also show that the Bair Hugger will likely cause temperature differences that cause convection currents. Those convection currents, in turn, could draw air from non-sterile areas, such as the floor, into the surgical site.

At least one study described air from non-sterile areas as laden with pathogens, compromising the surgical site’s sterility. A 2011 study, “Forced-air warming and ultra-clean ventilation do not mix,” was published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. It proposed that the forced-air warmer’s disruption of the ultra-clean air, along with its creation of convection currents drawing air from non-sterile areas, are plausible explanations for what it found to be a significant association between using forced-air warmers and the risk of SSIs.

Finally, a 2012 study, “Do forced air patient-warming devices disrupt unidirectional downward airflow?” (Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery), and two 2013 studies — “Forced-air patient warming blankets disrupt unidirectional flow” (Bone & Joint Journal) and “Patient Warming Excess Heat: The Effects on Orthopedic Operating Room Ventilation Performance” (Anesthesia & Analgesia) — found that forced-air warming significantly increased the number of airborne particles over the surgical site. The studies did not conclude that the additional particles carried bacteria but did find that the increased particles were a cause for concern.

Bair Hugger lawsuits

3M has been hit with Bair Hugger lawsuits alleging the forced-air heating blanket caused surgery patients to contract infections from germs picked up in the operating room and circulated by the device.

Plaintiffs allege 3M was aware of the risk of dangerous complications associated with the Bair Hugger since at least 2009, but continued to market the device as safe. The lawsuits claim that patients suffered severe joint infections due to the use of the Bair Hugger during surgery. To treat the infection, these plaintiffs allegedly had to undergo multiple surgeries and have the joint implant removed. One plaintiff said he had to have his leg amputated after using the Bair Hugger.

If you or a loved one experienced Bair Hugger complications, such as a joint infection after the forced-air heating blanket was used during surgery, you may be able to take legal action. A Bair Hugger lawsuit may help you obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. 

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.