A 3M Bair Hugger is a medical device which is used to maintain a patient’s body temperature during a surgical procedure.
Class action plaintiffs have recently begun filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of the 3M bair hugger, claiming that use of this device during surgical procedures increases the risk of joint infection.
If you have suffered injury or infection as a result of exposure to a 3M Bair Hugger device during your surgical procedure, you may be entitled to monetary compensation with the help of a skilled mass torts lawyer. Experienced 3M Bair Hugger lawyers can assist you with your case and help you to obtain compensation for your injuries and damages.
The 3M Bair Hugger device, which is most commonly used to stabilize a patient’s body temperature during a hip or knee replacement surgery. The device pushes warm air through a hose and into a blanket covering the patient during the procedure.
The device then releases warm air over the patient’s body, while at the same time releasing air underneath the surgical table.
Unfortunately, the unfiltered air which is released under the table during the surgical procedure can potentially cause bacteria to spread throughout the operating room and land on the open surgical site. The bacteria then causes an infection in the patient’s knees or hips, including a deep joint infection.
Treatment for these infections often involves a combination of revision surgery and a long course of antibiotic treatment. In the most serious cases, the patient might even require an amputation.
The most common symptoms of infection associated with exposure to 3M Bair Hugger devices during hip and knee surgeries include the following:
Injured patients have been filing class action lawsuits against the manufacturers of the 3M bair hugger, claiming that prior to releasing the device on the market, the manufacturers knew (or should have known) of the potential for joint infection associated with use of the device during surgical procedures.
These plaintiffs further allege that the manufacturers did not provide adequate warnings to healthcare providers about the risks of infection associated with the device and did not re-design the device in order to make it safer and lessen the risks of infection when used during surgical procedures.
When plaintiffs are able to prove that the above-referenced defects proximately caused their injuries and damages, they may be entitled to recover some or all of the following types of damages:
If you have been injured or damaged by exposure to a 3M Bair Hugger during a recent surgical procedure, experienced 3M Bair Hugger lawyers have the necessary medical knowledge to assist you with your case today.
You should feel free to contact skilled 3M Bair Hugger lawyers at any time, via telephone or email, for an initial consultation.
