Smith & Nephew Launches Periarticular Locked Plating System To Treat Trauma Patients

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew’s Orthopaedics business today announced the introduction of its PERI-LOC(TM) Periarticular Locked Plating System.

The PERI-LOC(TM) system is a trauma plating device used to treat lower extremity bone fractures, allowing the surgeon to save time in the operating room and perform less invasive surgeries. An upper extremity plating system will be introduced later this year.

“There are many special features designed into the PERI-LOC(TM) system including precise anatomical contours to more closely fit the fractured bone,” said Scott Flora, senior vice president and general manager of the Trauma Division of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics. “This introduction adds to our full line of trauma surgical products to help better service our customers.”

The PERI-LOC(TM) system offers the unique multi-purpose screw hole which gives the option of locking and non-locking procedures in one system. Locking screws aid compression, the process which pushes bone fractures together to speed healing. The plating system also includes simplified instrument set for easy use, including standardized drill guides and screwdrivers to save time, and scalloped plate edges which allow screws to be placed outside the plate. For use in minimally invasive procedures, the PERI-LOC(TM) system will have radiolucent targetters for fast accurate fitting. This feature debuts later this year.

To research these features Smith & Nephew called on a global team of surgeons and design engineers. To optimize the fit of the plates, they studied hundreds of bones at one of the world’s largest cadaveric bone libraries in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. More than 1,000 surgical evaluations have already been conducted, the most ever for a Smith & Nephew product prior to broader launch. Clinical evaluation of the system by surgeons was well received. “From the surgeon’s point of view, the PERI-LOC(TM) unit is very user-friendly,” said Dr. Greg Georgiadis of the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo.

PERI-LOC(TM) will be shown to an international group of surgeons February 23-25 at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Meeting in Washington, DC.

In 2003, the U.S. growth rate for the $385 million plates and screws market was 19%. This segment makes up approximately 37% of the $1 billion Trauma market.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew ( http://www.smith-nephew.com/ ) is a global medical technology business, specializing in Endoscopy, Orthopaedics and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew ranks as the global leader in arthroscopy and one of the world’s leaders in advanced wound management and is one of the fastest growing orthopaedics companies in the world.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people’s lives. The company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeon and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with the highest standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has more than 8,000 employees and operates in 32 countries around the world and generated sales of nearly $2.3 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our operating margins discussed under “Outlook” are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases “aim,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “well-placed,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “target,” “consider” and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew’s most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

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Smith & Nephew, Inc.

CONTACT: Victor Rocha of Smith & Nephew, Inc., +1-901-399-6771, orvictor.rocha@smithnephew.com