Arandomized-clinical trial examining a neoprene abdominal binder in gynecologic surgery patients

Purpose of Investigation: Pain control and early ambulation are two important postoperative goals. Strategics that decrease morphine use while increasing ambulation have the potential to decrease postoperative complications. In this study the authors sought to deter- mine the effect of an abdominopelvic binder on postoperative morphine use, pain, and ambulation in the first day after surgery. Mate- rials and Methods: The authors randomly assigned 75 patients undergoing abdominal gynecologic surgery to either binder or not after surgery. Demographic data and surgical characteristics were collected. Outcome variables included morphine use, pain score, time to ambulation, and number of ambulations. Results: A group at high risk for decreased mobility was identified and the binder increased the number of ambulatory events by 300%, 260%, and 240% in patients with vertical incisions, age over 50 years, and complex sur- geries, respectively. Morphine use and pain scores were not significantly different. Conclusion: The binder increased ambulations in the subset of patients at the highest risk for postoperative complications: elderly, cancer patients, and vertical incisions. Routine use of the binder may benefit particularly high-risk gynecologic surgical patients.