News Release

Minimally Invasive Solution Procedure for Uni Knee Provides Alternative to Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Instrumentation allows doctors to remove and replace only the diseased portion of the knees of osteoarthritis sufferers through a minimally invasive procedure

(Warsaw, Ind. — November 13, 2000) — Zimmer Inc. (NYSE: ZMH) announced today that its Minimally Invasive Solution™ (MIS™) procedure for their M/G Unicompartmental Knee System (“Uni Knee”) provides an alternative to total knee replacements for qualified patients.

“By offering this treatment option, it is possible to limit the patient’s hospital stay – in fact, a number of these procedures are being done on an outpatient basis – getting them back up on their feet in a shorter period of time and making rehabilitation easier,” said Alfred J. Tria Jr., M.D., a professor of orthopaedics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J. “Like other knee replacement procedures, the MIS surgery helps improve the quality of life of individuals by allowing them to regain many of the physical activities they have come to enjoy in their lives.”

21 million people

Approximately 21 million people in the United States suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that often follows a history of injury or overuse of a joint. Deterioration of the articular cartilage in the knees, often the result of osteoarthritis, causes bone to rub against bone. That friction causes symptoms such as a feeling of stiffness, moderate to severe discomfort, debilitating pain and eventual loss of motion.

It is estimated that 20 percent of patients who suffer from advanced arthritis of the knee are potential candidates for the new MIS procedure for the Uni Knee. Using new, specialized instruments, surgeons are able to perform this minimally invasive procedure through a small 2- to 3-inch incision, which results in a smaller scar, as opposed to the 8- to 12-inch incision normally required for traditional, open knee surgery. From there, the surgeon removes only the diseased portion of the knee, leaves the healthy part of the knee untouched, and implants the prosthesis. In addition to the procedure, the Uni Knee design conserves the surfaces of the patient’s bone, which aids in future total knee replacement surgery, if necessary.

Shorter hospital stay

Current clinical results suggest that a shorter hospital stay (24 hours or fewer) and a shorter recovery time (typically two to five weeks) may result from the MIS procedure. Recovery time for a total knee replacement can last as much as six months or more. In addition, successful Uni Knee implantation may delay and, in some cases, prevent a more extensive knee replacement surgery.

Dominick Semenza, 58, a lieutenant with the Edison, N.J., Police Department, is a patient of Dr. Tria and recently underwent the MIS procedure using the Uni Knee. Prior to the operation, Semenza was contemplating retirement due to the recovery time necessary with having a total knee replacement.

“It was difficult for me to get up, go to work and even try to function on the job or throughout my everyday life,” said Semenza. “Within two weeks of my surgery I was driving myself to rehab. Within four weeks, I was walking without a cane. With the help of my doctor, I had a choice. The surgery has allowed me to get back to work and possibly may even allow me to not have to have any further surgery.”

Dr. Tria says that not all patients may experience Semenza’s results. A number of factors can determine not only whether a patient is qualified for the MIS procedure and Uni Knee, but also how successful the procedure will be for that individual.

Not Always Right Treatment Option

“The MIS procedure or the Uni Knee isn’t going to be the right treatment option for every patient,” said Dr. Tria. “Success or failure is based on a myriad of elements, such as the person’s activity level, weight, bone quality and if their arthritis is advanced enough or too advanced for this treatment. Also, patients need to be committed to rehabilitation to attain the full benefits of the recovery.”

The MIS procedure and the MIS instruments for the M/G Uni Knee were developed by Bjorn E. Albrektsson, M.D., of Sweden, in conjunction with Zimmer. Zimmer and leading clinicians and consultants developed the M/G Uni Knee System, in which only a portion of the knee is replaced.

Shorter Incision

“The incision is shorter because the instrumentation is much smaller than previously used for knee replacements,” said Sheryl Conley, vice president, Global Marketing and Commercialization for Zimmer. “We are making the MIS instrumentation for the Uni Knee available to select physicians worldwide and offering training to those surgeons who want to offer this technology to their patients and build this part of their practice. This is a substantial step forward for surgeons and their patients who qualify for the surgery.

“The key to effectively treating knee problems is early diagnosis,” said Conley. “The patient should identify the symptoms, see their physician, and seek information on all treatment options.”

266,000 Total Knee Replacements

Approximately 266,000 total knee replacements are performed each year, and that number is increasing, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Unicompartmental knee replacements, where one part of the knee is replaced, total more than 5,000, although that figure is likely to grow.

Zimmer, based in Warsaw, Indiana, is a worldwide leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive orthopaedic implants and trauma products. Orthopaedic reconstruction implants restore joint function lost due to disease or trauma in joints such as knees, hips, shoulders and elbows. Trauma products are devices used primarily to reattach or stabilize damaged bone and tissue to support the body’s natural healing process. Zimmer manufactures and markets other products related to orthopaedic surgery. Zimmer was founded in 1927 and has more than 3,600 employees worldwide.