Having Surgery? Consider an Abdominal Binder

The sooner a patient is up and moving after surgery the faster normal bowel and breathing functions return to normal. In addition, she is less likely to develop a potentially life threatening blood clot.  A recent study demonstrated that patients who had abdominal binders applied immediately after surgery ambulated sooner with less pain medication needed.  Both my experience and that of the nurses on the postpartum ward is that once an abdominal binder is applied the majority of patients get immediate reduction in pain, are able to move easier, and require less pain medication.  Only a small percentage of patients do not like the feeling of the binder. The binders we use at Medical City extend over the majority of the abdomen, from the ribcage into the lower abdomen.  They lend support to the abdominal muscles as well as probably reducing tension at the surgical incision.