ORTONYX Sternum and Thorax Support Chest Brace Post Open Heart Surgery Sternum Fractures Rehabilitation / ACHB5255-S

I broke my sternum very badly on April 1 in an auto accident. The fracture is displaced meaning the edges aren’t together. These braces have been life savers for me. I first bought a medium then also bought a small as I am between sizes. This brace has helped stabilize my fracture and gives me something I can cough against if needed.I wear this 24/7 unless bathing or changing clothes and have now for two months.Pros:1) adjustable — the back has Velcro and can be customized for size. Shoulder are also adjustable (see cons).2) the bracing and foam padding are substantial and effective3) I can tighten this down to keep the bone from shifting as I walk so that it functions l like a cast.4) no odor problems even though I’ve had to wear this for over two months now5) if you are tall you should be okay with the shoulder straps—they are super long.Cons:1) shoulder straps are super long. While adjustable they sometimes rub across my skin in the neckline. If the Velcro does this then it sometimes rubs my shoulders/neck but this is an issue that can be addressed with different clothing and is more of an annoyance.2) Pet Hair: as with anything with Velcro: it can get full of debris such as pet hair and lint especially since this is a 24/7 item. Since it is black pet hair is very visible.

8 days post 3 way cardiac bypass. Chest compression is so nice...Not hard, not intrusive...just wraps. So glad I got it before procedure. Sleep with it, wear it probably 20 hours a day now...and for the near future. Surgery was no fun, this helps keep the pain and limits down somewhat.

Nice vest. I had open heart surgery 6 weeks ago.Wish the top strap was bit tighter and/or had adjustable front straps.U can make one overall adjustment from the back.

My Father had open heart surgery and this was one of the best things I bought to help him. Would I recommend this for someone who had open heart surgery YES!

Got this after Open Heart Surgery but ended up returning it. It kept riding up under my chin. It almost needs some kind of belt clip to keep it in position. It was very uncomfortable to wear and was constantly adjusting it.

I (female in my 40s) bought this ahead of my surgery. I wasn't sure if I would use it all the time, but was certain I would appreciate it when in a car to protect my chest incision. I wore it home from the hospital because the metal stays made me feel safer with a belt across that fragile and tender area. After maybe the second time I took it off, I decided it would be better to just wear it all the time. The comfort level in my healing was noticeably better with the brace on. I feel like it was way better than the heart pillow the hospital gives patients. When even yawning is painful, every bit of structured support that you can find is a blessing. It is very well built. You will need a helper to make the Velcro adjustment easier as it's on the back, but it's so useful. The shoulder straps release easily and have enough structure to keep their after months of 24-7 use. It's a very quality build, seriously. The fabric shows no wear and the Velcro felt doesn't, either. I spot or hand wash when something has spilled on it (once!). I will echo what others have said and recommend that ladies remove the pads on the chest. I believe they are for reshaping that curve to a man's body. It's not the most attractive thing to wear, but I want to heal. I'll worry about looks later. The size was correct. Check the chart. The original of this item is called the Heart - Hugger. It is only sold in the UK through the medical supply that created it. The price point of the Heart - Hugger is $140 plus shipping from the UK. This is less than half that price. I'm very happy with the cost, have recommended it to several people already, and for the algorithm: it works well.

does the job , very comfy to ware .

No matter how I adjust it, it hurts after a few hours. The should buckets rubs against the collar bone and also makes the top of sternum painful due to the pressure. The brace is designed for man, or I shall say for those with no breasts at all. Otherwise it is extremely uncomfortable because the brace compress the chest leaving no room for breasts. DON'T BUY IT IF YOU ARE A WOMAN!