Impact of Sternal Precautions on Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery via Sternotomy: A SCOPING REVIEW

Of 16 464 unique records screened, 12 studies involving 2853 patients were included. These studies found that neither weighted upper body movement strategies nor less restrictive sternal precautions negatively affect sternal wound infections, sternal stability, pain, length of hospital stay, readmissions, or health-related quality of life. Positive improvements were found in functional status and discharge disposition in patients following a less restrictive sternal regimen. The body of evidence indicates that weighted upper body movement strategies and less restrictive sternal precautions do not negatively affect the investigated clinical or patient-reported outcomes post-sternotomy.