Lara J. Tuyl|Jennifer Mackney|Catherine Johnston
Management of Sternal Precautions Following Median Sternotomy by Physical Therapists in Australia: A Web-Based Survey
St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney|University of Newcastle Australia|University of Newcastle Australia
sternal precautions utilized within many hospitals aim preventing occurrence sternal complications eg infection wound breakdown following midline sternotomy evidence base sternal precaution protocols however questioned due paucity research unknown effect patient outcomes possible discrepancies pattern use among institutionsthe objective study investigate document use sternal precautions physical therapists treatment patients following median sternotomy hospitals throughout australia immediately postsurgery discharge hospitala crosssectional observational design used anonymous webbased survey custom designed use studythe questionnaire content validated online functionality assessed senior cardiothoracic physical therapist hospital identified currently performing cardiothoracic surgery n51 invited participatethe response rate 588 n30 public n18 private n12 hospitals states australia represented management protocols reported participants included wound support n22 restrictions lifting transfers n23 restrictions mobility aid use n15 factors influencing clinical practice commonly included workplace practicesprotocols n27 clinical experience n22 limitations study may limited response biassignificant variation exists sternal precautions protocols used treatment patients following median sternotomy australian hospitals research needed investigate whether restrictions precautions used necessary whether protocols impact patient outcomes including rates recovery length stay