Sternal Closure With STERNUMFIX in Patients With High Risk

Inclusion: * Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with a median sternotomy * Age \>18 years * Male and female sex * Informed consent * Patients with high risk for sternal wound complications Patients are designated as high risk patients if they have either: * one or more major risk factors or * four or more minor risk factors. Major risk factors are: * Obesity: BMI \> 30. * Diabetes: intake of oral anti-diabetic drugs and/or insulin at time of surgery. * COPD: history of chronic coughing plus expectoration for at least 3 months by at least two consecutive years, plus evidence of restrictive pattern at spirometry. * Planned BITA: bilateral use of thoracic artery * Age \> 75 years Minor risk factors are: * History of smoking;(minimum of 1 year of history of smoking) * Hyperlipoproteinaemia (as stated in the patient data) * Planned surgery is a CABG * Patient is on dialysis * Repeat sternotomy * Left ventricular ejection fraction \< 30% (as stated in the patient data) * Male sex Exclusion: * Active infection * Participation in a pharmaceutical clinical study or any trial with interfering endpoints within the last 30 days * Pregnancy