The manufacturers of the Bair Hugger warming blanket, 3M Company, face a man’s product liability lawsuit alleging complications and serious injuries resulting from use of the device.

Plaintiff Edward F. filed the Bair hugging warming blanket lawsuit in Minnesota federal court on Feb. 14, 2018.

According to the Bair hugging warming blanket lawsuit, Edward, a resident of Wisconsin, says that the blanket was used on him while he underwent surgery for a total knee arthroplasty at Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital.

However, because of the blanket’s use during the surgery, he says that he developed periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), also known as a deep joint infection (DJI), says the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, “Contaminants introduced into Plaintiff’s open surgical wound as a direct and proximate result of the use of the Bair Hugger during the subject surgery resulted in Plaintiff” developing the infection. Because of the infection, he underwent multiple additional surgeries including amputation surgery.

The Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuit alleges multiple counts including negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, defective design and manufacture, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violation of the Minnesota Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, and violation of the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Other allegations include violation of the Minnesota Unlawful Trade Practices Act, violation of the Minnesota Unlawful Trade Practices Act, violation of the Minnesota False Advertising Act, Consumer Fraud and/or Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices under Law of the State of Wisconsin, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, loss of consortium, and unjust enrichment.

Edwards demands a trial by jury.

Overview: Bair Hugger Warming Blanket

The Bair hugger warming blanket is used on patients during surgeries to regulate their body temperatures. Some surgeries include hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery, and shoulder replacement surgery.

However, there have been several complications reported in conjunction with use of these warming systems. These may require significant treatment as well. Complications include deep joint infections. Treatments may require:

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

Although keeping patients warm during surgical procedures has always been the goal (helping to reduce recovery time and bleeding time), there have been serious and dangerous complications linked to the Bair Hugger blanket. The Bair hugger blanket, introduced to the market in 1988, blows hot air on the patient’s skin helping to regulate their body temperature while they are under anesthesia.

However, critics say the hot air spreads bacteria onto the surgical site, increasing a patient’s risk for the development of infections.

According to a 2011 study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, 58 percent of warming blankets, like the Bair Hugger, that force air onto a surgical site emitted airborne contaminants. Although the study did not confirm whether the contaminants were viable, when dealing with knee or hip replacements, increased contamination levels is not necessary to cause an infection.

The Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuit is Case No. 0:18-cv-00432-JNE-FLN, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.