Front — central buckle, adjustable shoulder and chest straps
Made in Austria Single-patient device EU MDR 2017/745
POSTHORAX® PRO Support Vest
Sternum support vest for recovery after median sternotomy. A non-flexible chest piece with a hyperextension stop, and patented cushions running parallel to the sternum, apply light anterior–posterior compression to the healing bone.
Tax invoice supplied for private health fund claims — patients commonly receive $100–$300 back. How to claim
- Secure card payment via Stripe
- Includes 10% GST, itemised on your tax invoice
- Delivery Delivery $16.50 inc. GST, typically 1–3 weeks — call us if your surgery is sooner
- Supplied in a sealed vacuum pack; unopened returns within 30 days
- New to this? Sternal precautions explained
Ordering for a hospital or ward? Vests are packaged five per size. Bulk and purchase orders →
At a glance
- Indication
- External thoracic stabilisation after median sternotomy — CABG, valve replacement, aortic and other open-heart procedures
- When it goes on
- As soon as possible after surgery — ideally fitted in hospital within the first 72 hours
- How long
- Day and night for six to eight weeks, while the sternum knits
- Mechanism
- Non-flexible chest piece with hyperextension stop; pad for light anterior–posterior compression
- Materials
- 100% cotton shell; padding 100% PU foam with BW coating; plastic buckles
- Care
- Household wash and dry up to 60°C, gentle cycle. Never hotter — it changes pressure distribution. No hospital laundry
- Regulatory
- Single-patient product under EU Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745. European Patent 1940330
- Hospital packaging
- Five pieces per size, per package
This is the vest that was trialled
Most chest supports have never been tested. The Posthorax vest has been the subject of four randomised controlled trials across Austria and Germany, together enrolling more than 4,800 cardiac surgery patients, plus a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of thorax support vests.
Read the evidenceLargest trial — 2,539 patients randomised
Routine use reduced the relative risk of deep sternal complications by 54%.
Gorlitzer et al., Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2013;17(3):515–522
Pressure-sensor testing, University of Vienna
8 Nm of front-to-back counter-pressure — four times an elastic bandage at 2 Nm.
The measured basis of the anterior–posterior support effect
Awards
1st Place Innovation Award, City of Vienna (2009). HSJ Efficiency in Medical Technology Award (2013).
Sizes and prices
| Size | SKU | Price inc. GST |
|---|---|---|
| Small | PH-VEST-M-S / W-S | $390.50 |
| Medium | PH-VEST-M-M / W-M | $335.50 |
| Large | PH-VEST-M-L / W-L | $335.50 |
| X-Large | PH-VEST-M-XL / W-XL | $335.50 |
| XX-Large | PH-VEST-M-XXL / W-XXL | $390.50 |
Support Vest questions
+What is the vest used for?
It provides external thoracic stabilisation after a median sternotomy — the incision used in open-heart surgery. It supports the sternum, reduces pain, and aids postoperative rehabilitation.
+Can it be washed?
Yes — in the patient’s household, washed and dried at up to 60°C (140°F), with a gentle cycle recommended. Above 60°C the materials are damaged, which leads to unequal pressure on the sternum. It is not suitable for hospital laundry.
+Is it worn over clothing?
Either way — directly on the skin or over a light shirt, whichever is more comfortable over the wound. It is ergonomically designed for both men and women, and when fitted correctly feels like a firm, steady hug.
+Can two patients share one vest?
No. It is a single-patient product under EU Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745, for hygiene and patient safety.
+What if I ordered the wrong size?
Unopened vests still sealed in their vacuum pack can be exchanged within 30 days. Once the pack is opened the vest cannot be returned or exchanged, for hygiene reasons — so measure carefully, or call us before you order.
Also in the range
Thoracotomy · Rib injury
ThoraxBelt — from $58.30
Thoracic belt for pain reduction and faster mobilisation after lateral chest surgery.
TAVI · Universal fit
Chestfix — $60.50
One size, applied immediately after surgery. No measuring required.
Before you order
Sizing guide
How to measure the chest correctly, and what to do if you are between sizes.