3M Company and Arizant HealthCare are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), alleging problems with the Bair Hugger blanket. One of the claims was filed by a man from South Carolina, alleging he developed a deep joint infection after the device was used in his surgery.

Plaintiff Mark B. opted to file legal action against the manufacturers after discovering that other patients had reported developing deep joint infections after the Bair Hugger blanket was used during their surgeries.

The blanket consists of a disposable warming blanket that is connected to a portable heater by a hose. During surgeries, the Bair Hugger blanket is placed over the patient to stabilize body temperature, which is supposed to help reduce bleeding and decrease the necessary recovery time.

The blanket has been on the market since 1988, and has had a significant impact on surgical practices in the United States. Given how widely it is used and the marketing statements from Arizant and 3M Company, Mark alleges that he and his physicians had no reason to be wary of the device.

According to the claim, Mark underwent surgery on July 6, 2015. During this surgery, the Bair Hugger blanket allegedly allowed bacteria to contaminate the surgical site.

The bacterial contamination caused Mark to develop a deep joint infection requiring extensive follow up care. According to the Bair Hugger lawsuit, Mark had to undergo irrigation, debridement, and polyethylene exchange on July 26, 2015 as a result.

Mark says he has since been contending with his medical condition, and reportedly continues to suffer pain and suffering from the effects of deep joint infection.

Overview of Bair Hugger Complications

The blanket works by blowing hot air onto the patient. The device itself is sterile, but Mark alleges it may pick up air from non sterile areas of the environment due to convection currents.

This contamination has reportedly been observed in several studies, including a 2011 study published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Researchers concluded that the device may be disrupting the sterile surgical environment, with convection currents collecting contaminated air.

Blowing non-sterile air allows for bacteria to come into contact with the surgical site significantly increasing the risk of deep joint infection. Patients who develop deep joint infection most likely will have to undergo significant treatments including:

• Multiple Revision Surgeries
• Intravenous Antibiotic Treatment
• Placement of Antibiotic Spacer in Infected Joint
• Amputation

Even though these complications can be devastating to patients, 3M Company and Arizant allegedly failed to warn the public of potential problems with the Bair Hugger blanket. Mark states he would not have agreed to the blanket if he had known the risk of deep joint infection.

Mark’s Bair Hugger lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2666, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging deep joint infection from the Bair Hugger device. By joining an MDL, Mark’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process, and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

This Bair Hugger Lawsuit is Case No. 0:18-cv-01861-JNE-FLN, in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota.