Final answer:
Splinting the incision with a pillow after chest trauma surgery is important for reducing pain and facilitating deep breathing, which are crucial for postoperative recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Splinting the incision with a pillow after surgery to repair chest trauma provides several benefits to the patient. Most notably, it reduces pain perception when coughing or moving, as it helps to support the tender area, potentially decreasing pain-triggered muscle tension. Secondly, it facilitates deep breathing by providing a firm surface against which the patient can brace, assisting in full chest expansion and helping to prevent atelectasis, which is the collapse of part of the lungs.
Deep breathing exercises are crucial after chest surgery to help clear the lungs and reduce the risk of pneumonia. Furthermore, while it's not directly related to preventing air leaks or increasing perfusion at the incision site, splinting the incision can help to minimize postoperative complications and promote more effective respiratory mechanics.