Background: Sternal osteomyelitis is with up to 8 % a frequent and due to high mortality rates a severe complication after thoracic and cardiac surgery. Therapy strategies based on superficial surgical debridement in combination with antibiotics do not seem to be effective. The subtotal or partial[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL] ; SeriesInformation ; 133. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie