• POSTHORAX STUDIES

    Post OP products for cardiac and thoracic surgery studies

Posthorax Studies

Optimise Your Recovery with Posthorax Thoracic Support.

POSTHORAX® is at the forefront of thoracic recovery, offering clinically proven support solutions that play a vital role in postoperative care. Studies highlight the effectiveness of the PRO Support Vest, Chestfix, and ThoraxBelt in reducing postoperative complications and accelerating recovery following open-heart and thoracic surgeries. Patients using these devices consistently experience reduced pain, improved respiratory mechanics, and earlier mobilisation—key factors in minimising hospital stays and enhancing overall outcomes.

By promoting sternal stability and optimising chest wall support, POSTHORAX® devices help lower reliance on opioid-based pain medications, contributing to safer, more comfortable recoveries. These evidence-based interventions are trusted by cardiac surgeons, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation teams worldwide. With a commitment to innovation and patient-centered design, POSTHORAX® continues to set new standards in thoracic rehabilitation, ensuring both clinicians and patients benefit from advanced, reliable recovery solutions grounded in clinical expertise.

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Publications & Studies

1. A Randomized Trial to Assess the Contribution of a Novel Thorax Support Vest (Corset) in Preventing Mechanical Complications of Median Sternotomy

Philippe P. Caimmi . Maurizio Sabbatini . Emmanouil I. Kapetanakis . Silvia Cantone . Marcus V. Ferraz . Mario Cannas . Ugo F. Tesler

Received: November 1, 2016

© The Author(s) 2016. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com

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P.P._Caimmi_study_published

2. Do external support devices reduce sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery?

Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery Advance Access published August 30, 2016

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A.Modi_Royal_Sussex_County_Hospital_Brighton_UK

3. Prevention of sternal wound complications after sternotomy: results of a large prospective randomized multicentre trial

Michael Gorlitzer, Florian Wagner, Steffen Pfeiffer, Sandra Folkmann, Johann Meinhart, Theodor Fischlein, Hermann Reichenspurner and Martin Grabenwoeger

Corresponding author. Hietzing Hospital, Wolkersbergenstr. 1, 1130 Vienna, Austria. Tel: +43-1-80110; fax: +43-1-80110-2729; e-mail: michael.gorlitzer@wienkav.at (M. Gorlitzer). Received 17 October 2012; received in revised form 22 April 2013; accepted 29 April 2013

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ICVTS_paper_2013

4. Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery

A prospective randomized multicenter trial shows improvement of sternum related complications in cardiac surgery with the Posthorax ® support vest Michael Gorlitzer, Florian Wagner, Steffen Pfeiffer, Sandra Folkmann, Johann Meinhart, Theodor Fischlein, Hermann Reichenspurner and Martin Grabenwöger

Interact CardioVasc Thorac Surg 2010;10:714-718; originally published online Jan 26, 2010;

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ICVTS_paper_2010

5. A newly designed thorax support vest prevents sternum instability after median sternotomy

European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery 36 (2009) 335—339

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EJCTS_Paper_2009

POSTHORAX STERNUM Support Studies 2008-2016

1. Biomechanical Pressure Sensor Testing

Institut for Biomechanical Engineering University Vienna, Prof. Dr. Bijak

Result: Posthorax produced 8 NM counter pressure – the flexible bandage only 2 NM : -75{d1bec463a31e1791389d452d75f79f105a14ed31c81168af8650a8aa45ecee37}

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Comparison of thorax support systems after median sternotomy: Evaluation of force distribution in a biomechanical analysis

2. Multicenter Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Multicenter study, prospective randomized (2600 patients) Heartcenter Hietzing/Vienna, University Hospital Hamburg – Eppendorf, Heartcenter Nürnberg

Result: Reduction mediastinitis from 2,27 % to 1,04 % : -54% (mediastinitis classification El Oakley and Wright)

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DGTHG_2011_slides_E

Papers:

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EJCTS_Paper_2009

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ICVTS_paper_2010

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ICVTS_paper_2013

3. Cohort Study University Heartcenter Hamburg

including all patients (2200) comparing 2011-2012

Result: Reduction of mediastinitis from 2,39 % to 0,88 % : -63% (mediastinitis classification El Oakley and Wright)

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Hamburg cohort slides 2011

4. Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm

Cohort study 978 patients 2011-2012

Result: Reduction mediastinitis from 2,2% to 0,6% : -72$

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Karolinska Sternum Instability in Clinical practice

5. University Hospital Southampton NHS

Risk adjusted study of 265 patients 2011-2012

Result: Reduction DSWI from 2,1 % to 1,2 % : -435 Indication prophylactic use: BMI >30, diabetes, steroids, Re-OP, reduced lung function, osteoporosis. Therapeutic use: clicky sternum, severe cough, SWI, Delirium/agitation, DSWC (on Vac pump or post rewiring)

Nomination HSJ Efficiency Awards 2013

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First UK Experience Southampton General Hospital 2012

6. University Heartcenter Zurich, Switzerland

Retrospective 1689 patients 2010-2012

Result: Reduction DSWI from 3,2% to 1,5% : -52%

Papers:

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Perioperative Management and Strategies to Decrease Sternal Wound Infection (Presented at 27th EACTS Annual Meeting, Vienna, Austria, 5 – 9 October 2013)

  1. Abstract (Review) :DOWNLOAD PDF
    Perioperative Management and Strategies to Decrease Sternal Wound Infection
  2. Presentation :DOWNLOAD PDF
    Sternum Infect 1BIMA

7. Clinica Del Lavoro e Delle Riabilitazione Milano, Italy

Respiratory study, prospective randomised 80 patients. Testing of cardiopulmonary % VO2, Plethysmograph TLC%, DLCO%, KCO%, 6 min walking, EuroQoL 5D-3L.

Result: No significant differences in the groups with and without vest

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Presentazione ANMCO definitiva EN (english)

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Presentazione ANMCO definitiva IT (italian)

8. Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm

There are several mechanisms by which the vest could affect respiration. Breathing while wearing the vest may be more dependent on the diaphragm, shifting ventilation to the lower lobes.

This may prevent atelectasis of the lower lobes, where it has been shown to occur most frequently following surgery (17). Movement of the ribcage after sternotomy may be painful, as this can cause movement of the two halves of the sternum. Such pain has been well documented and may persist for years (22,30). Because the vest restricts expansion and movement of the ribcage, breathing while wearing the vest may be less painful for the wearer.

This may increase the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy, including deep breathing exercises, and may facilitate early mobilization. This, in turn, may lead to deeper respiration when using the vest, with improved ventilation of the lungs leading to a lower occurrence of atelectasis.

Papers:

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STERNUM SUPPORT MAY PREVENT MAJOR ATELECTASIS AFTER MEDIAN STERNOTOMY

9. University Hospital of Novara ‘Maggiore della Caritá’

Mechanical complications of median sternotomy may cause significant morbidity and mortalita in cardiac surgical patients. This study was aimed at assesing the role of Posthorax support vest in the prevention of sternal complications and the improvement of anatomical healing in patients at high risk for mechanical dehiscende after cardiac surgery by mean of median sternotomy.

Papers:

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A Randomized trial to Asses the Contribution of a Novel Thorax Support Vest (Corset) in Preventing Mechanical Complications of Median Sternotomy

10. Cohort Study, University Hospital Mainz

OBESE CARDIAC PATIENTS: SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF DEEP STERNAL WOUND COMPLICATIONS BY WEARING THE POSTHORAX VEST?

Buschmann K., Bienias J., Brendel L., Halbroth I., Ghazy A., Karliova I., Emrich A.L., Vahl C.F.
Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Herz-, Thorax-, Gefäßchirurgie, Mainz, Germany

Objectives:
Sternal wound healing disturbances are still a frequently postoperative complication after median sternotomy especially in obese patients. Surgical wound revision and prolonged hospitalization increase the costs disproportionally. Thus we planned a study to evaluate if the sternal wound complication rate after cardiac surgery can be profitably reduced by wearing the PosthoraxTM vest.

Conclusion:
The rate of deep sternal wound complication in the Vest group tells its own tale. There is a reduction of half as less. As limitation we have to ask if the Vest group is compareable to the Control group because of significant shorter ICU stay and earlier mobilization, but otherwise these factors belong to postoperative course without complications. Of course the surgical technique for wound closing is also important and dependent on the surgeon. Nevertheless in our clinic we apply the Posthorax vest in every obese patient who has to underwent cardiac surgery via median sternotomy in order to reduce postoperative deep sternal wound complications and costs.

Papers:

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OBESE CARDIAC PATIENTS: SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF DEEP STERNAL WOUND COMPLICATIONS BY WEARING THE POSTHORAX VEST?

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Presentation

11. Robert – ­Bosch – ­Hospital Stuttgart, Germany

THE TOTAL ARTERIAL MYOCARDIAL REVASCULARIZATION USING BILATERAL IMA AND THE ROLE OF POST-OPERATIVE STERNAL STABILIZATION TO REDUCE WOUND INFECTIONS IN A LARGE COHORT STUDY.

Albert M, MD Ursulescu A, MD Franke UFW, MD Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany

Objectives:
The total-arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral IMA shows improved results regarding mortality, long-term survival as well as superior graft patency and thus has become the standard technique according to recent guidelines. On the other hand, those patients might suffer from an increased risk of developing sternal wound infections, especially when being obese or having a medical history of diabetes. One reason for the wound complications may be an early sternum instability, which could be avoided using a thorax support vest (e.g. Posthorax vest). This retrospective study compares the wound complications after bilateral IMA grafting according to the use of a Posthorax vest.

Conclusion:
As seen in this retrospective study, the early perioperative use of a thorax stabilization vest such as the POSTORAX vest can reduce the incidence of sternal wound complications significantly. Furthermore when a wound infection occurred and the patients returned to hospital for wound revision, the patients who had been administered the POSTORAX vest postoperatively will have a significant shorter length of stay until wound closure.

Papers:

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The total arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral IMA and the role of post-operative sternal stabilization to reduce wound nfections in a large cohort study.

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Presentation

12. Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK

Early post-sternotomy use of the available external non-elastic sternal support devices reduces sternal wound complications and may be associated with a shorter lenght of hospital stay.

Papers:

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Do external support devices reduce sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery?

13. Evidence Based Medicine – Posthorax Clinical Trials

14 Clinical Trials | 8 Countries | N=12666

Papers:

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Evidence Based Medicine – Posthorax Clinical Trials

Posthorax Testimonials

Posthorax testimonials highlight real-life experiences of patients benefiting from its innovative support for chest recovery. Users praise its comfort, improved breathing, and accelerated healing, offering hope and confidence during recovery. Trusted by patients and professionals alike, Posthorax transforms rehabilitation.

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