The range Three devices
One range, three ways a chest is opened.
A sternotomy, a lateral thoracotomy and a percutaneous procedure each strain the chest differently, so POSTHORAX® makes three devices rather than one adjustable compromise. All three are made in Austria, single-patient under EU Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745, and delivered Australia-wide with a tax invoice for your health-fund claim.
Open-heart surgery Four randomised trials
PRO Support Vest
From $335.50 AUD inc. GST · six sizes · men's and women's fit
After a median sternotomy the breastbone is held together by wires while bone knits. The vest applies gentle front-to-back compression through padded cushions that run parallel to the sternum, with a rigid chest piece and hyperextension stop — so coughing, standing and rolling over stop pulling the two halves apart. Worn day and night for the six to eight weeks bone needs.
- For CABG, valve replacement and repair, and other procedures through the breastbone
- 54% lower relative risk of deep sternal complications across four randomised trials
- 100% cotton shell, PU foam cushions, washable at 60°C at home
- Hospital packaging: five pieces per size per package
Thoracotomy & rib injury ICU and ward use
ThoraxBelt
From $58.30 AUD inc. GST · six sizes · men's and women's fit
When the incision runs between the ribs at the side of the chest, or ribs are fractured, the pain is in the chest wall rather than the breastbone. The belt spreads even compression around the rib cage so the ribs move less, which makes breathing deeply and coughing tolerable — the two things that prevent chest infection and get people out of bed sooner.
- For thoracotomy, lung resection and lobectomy, and for fractured or bruised ribs
- Used in intensive care and on the ward as part of postoperative pain management
- Sized XS to XXL, $58.30 to $81.40 depending on size
- Delivery 5–7 business days
Day one, any chest Universal fit
Chestfix
$60.50 AUD inc. GST · one size fits all · one piece per unit
Designed to go on as soon as possible after surgery, when measuring for a fitted device isn't practical. Chestfix stabilises the thorax after procedures such as thoracotomy, lobectomy or TAVI, spreading pain across a larger area rather than concentrating it at the wound — which is why units keep it as immediate stock.
- No measuring — universal fit, applied at the bedside
- For thorax stabilisation after thoracic surgery and after TAVI
- Spreads load over a wider area to reduce reliance on pain medication
- Delivery 5–7 business days
Still not sure which one?
It comes down to how the chest was opened, not how much pain you're in. The comparison page sets the three devices side by side by indication, mechanism, sizing, evidence and price — and says plainly which claims apply to which device.
Two ways to order
Patients and families
Buy online, claim it back
Order any device directly with card payment. Every order ships with a tax invoice itemising the device, which is what your health fund needs — patients commonly receive $100–$300 back depending on their policy.
Hospitals and units
Stock it on the ward
PRO Support Vests come five pieces per size per package so a unit can hold a size range; Chestfix is supplied one piece per unit for immediate application. Quotes, account terms and in-service training on request.
Made in Austria
Manufactured to European Patent 1940330, not rebadged from a generic brace.
EU MDR 2017/745
Single-patient devices — one device, one patient, for hygiene and consistent fit.
Australia-wide
Belts and Chestfix in 5–7 business days; vests 1–3 weeks depending on size and volume.
Clinically studied
The Support Vest is the device with randomised trial evidence — see the studies.
Questions about the range
+Which POSTHORAX device do I need?
It depends on how the chest was opened. If the breastbone was divided down the middle — a median sternotomy, which covers most open-heart surgery — the PRO Support Vest is the device studied for that. If the incision was between the ribs at the side, or ribs are fractured, the ThoraxBelt supports the chest wall. Chestfix is universal fit for immediate stabilisation, including after TAVI. Your surgeon or physiotherapist has the final say.
+Do all three products need sizing?
The Support Vest and ThoraxBelt are sized and measured around the chest below the armpits — vest size is not shirt size, and if you fall between sizes, size down. Chestfix is universal fit and needs no measurement. The sizing guide walks through measuring properly, or we can confirm a size with you before dispatch.
+Can hospitals order in bulk?
Yes. Vests are packaged five pieces per size per package so a ward can hold a size range, and Chestfix is one piece per unit. Call 1300 707 222 or email sales@posthorax.com.au for a quote, account terms and in-service training — details on the hospitals page.
+Does the trial evidence cover all three devices?
No, and we don't claim it does. The randomised trials were run on the sternum support vest after median sternotomy. The ThoraxBelt and Chestfix are supported by the same mechanical principle and by clinical use, not by those trials — the evidence page states exactly what was measured and in whom.