Figure 3

Wound distension upon the application of a lateral force to draw apart the sternum wound edges to investigate the degree of stabilization during NPWT with and without a rigid barrier. Negative pressures of -40, -70, -120 and -170 mmHg were applied, and the wound width was measured under traction forces between 0 and 320 N. It can be seen that the wound is stabilized to similar degrees in the absence and in the presence of a rigid barrier during NPWT.