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Zimmer Launches New Minimally Invasive Hip Procedure

Published: Feb 24, 2005

WARSAW, Ind., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. , a worldwide leader in the orthopaedics industry, announced today that it will launch a new procedure for minimally invasive joint replacement that was developed to expand patient benefits and geographic reach beyond currently available techniques. The procedure is being demonstrated to orthopaedic surgeons attending the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting, which began on February 23, 2005, in Washington, D.C.

The Zimmer Minimally Invasive Solutions(TM) (MIS(TM)) Anterolateral Hip Replacement Procedure was developed in conjunction with Heinz Roettinger, MD at the Orthopaedische Chirurgie Muenchen in Munich, Germany. Dr. Roettinger has completed over 600 cases, while over 800 procedures have been performed worldwide. The word "anterolateral" describes the surgeon's approach to the hip joint, which allows the patient to lie on their side during the surgical procedure. This patient position is widely used and accepted throughout the global orthopaedic community, making this procedure attractive to a large base of orthopaedic surgeons worldwide.

"This new, single-incision, anterolateral technique is the next step in our drive to make minimally invasive joint replacement surgery accessible to a greater number of surgeons and patients," said Ray Elliott, Chairman, President and CEO. "We believe it will appeal to surgeons around the globe as it addresses an expanded range of surgeon philosophies and preferences."

Zimmer worked with surgeons to develop and refine both the surgical technique, which involves weaving through the patient's muscles instead of cutting down through them, and the specialized instruments which are required to perform the procedure. The anterolateral technique is one of several new expansions of Zimmer's platform technologies. A new primary hip stem featuring Trabecular Metal(TM) Technology for biologic fixation will be released in limited quantities in mid-2005 along with instrumentation compatible with all Zimmer MIS hip procedures.

Compared to standard hip replacement surgery, potential benefits for patients of established Zimmer MIS procedures include: 

  *  less tissue trauma;
  *  faster and less painful rehabilitation;
  *  smaller incisions and less scarring; and

* a shorter hospital stay - 1-2 days, rather than 3-5 days for standard surgery, with some patients able to go home in less than 24 hours.

"I believe surgeons worldwide will find this procedure to be less technically demanding than other true MIS procedures, and they will be pleased to find that there are Zimmer instruments available for implant designs preferred by surgeons around the world," said Dr. Roettinger. "Since I first began using this approach, I have found that my patients are able to return to activities of daily living without the traditional pain and rehabilitation time seen with other procedures."

Zimmer says it will immediately begin to offer training in the new approach at all Zimmer Institute locations worldwide. The Zimmer Institute provides hands-on training for orthopaedic surgeons through its hub location at Zimmer's headquarters in Warsaw, Indiana, and at other locations in North America, Europe and Asia.

About the Company

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. In October 2003, the Company finalized its acquisition of Centerpulse AG, a Switzerland-based orthopaedics company and the leader in the European reconstructive market. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer's 2004 sales were approximately $3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,500 employees worldwide.

Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://www.zimmer.com/ Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the pending informal SEC investigation of Centerpulse accounting, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

CONTACT: Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291,bradley.bishop@zimmer.com , Investors: Marc Ostermann, +1-574-371-8515,marc.ostermann@zimmer.com , or Sam Leno, +1-574-372-4790,sam.leno@zimmer.com , all of Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

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