Table 2. Outcomes of sternal stability and pain assessment in the two groups.

Variables	Group P (n=43)	Group N (n=48)	P value
Sternal gaps (mm)
Right upper limb elevation
Anterior-posterior gap (mm)	2.06±1.02	2.08±0.89	0.928
	2.00 (1.40–2.60)	1.90 (0.30–2.68)	0.824
Cranial-caudal gap (mm)	1.05±1.17	1.33±1.39	0.308
	0.90 (0.00–1.80)	1.25 (0.00–2.20)	0.346
Bilateral upper limbs elevation
Anterior-posterior gap (mm)	2.20±1.03	2.18±0.82	0.906
	2.10 (1.60–2.70)	2.10 (1.50–2.90)	0.074
Cranial-caudal gap (mm)	1.11±1.58	1.35±1.24	0.842
	0.90 (0.00–1.60)	1.30 (0.00–2.35)	0.148
Difference between two postures
Anterior-posterior gap (mm)	0.36±0.28	0.27±0.28	0.125
	0.30 (0.20–0.60)	0.20 (0.00–0.50)	0.077
Cranial-caudal gap (mm)	0.26±0.72	0.32±0.53	0.631
	0.00 (0.00–0.20)	0.10 (0.00–0.375)	0.363
Numerical rating scale of pain
At rest (n=31, 31)	0.6±1.0	0.4±1.1	0.531
	0.0 (0.0–1.0)	0.0 (0.0–0.0)	0.259
At right upper limb elevation	1.1±1.2	0.8±1.2	0.279
	1.0 (0.0–2.0)	0.0 (0.0–1.0)	0.131
At sitting up	1.8±1.8	1.6±1.8	0.698
	1.0 (0.0–3.0)	1.0 (0.0–2.0)	0.589

Data are presented as mean ± SD and median (IQR). P values were derived by Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.