Minnesota Surgery Ban Lifted
December 6, 2001
The Minnesota State Health Department has lifted a suspension on all elective knee surgeries that was imposed after three men mysteriously died last month. The State's epidemiologist concluded last week that such operations were safe and could resume as normal. Brian Lykins, 23, and Wayne Hulterstrum, 78, died November 11 after knee surgery at St. Cloud Hospital. Three days later an unidentified third man also died after a similar procedure was performed at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria. Two of the men had undergone knee replacement surgery while the third received a cartilage graft.
A rare but deadly bacterium, clostridium, was found in the blood of Lykins. Investigators have not determined if the bacterium was to blame, however, officials report that each man suffered from symptoms related to clostridium exposure. All three men were in excellent physical shape before their conditions quickly and mysteriously declined.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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