ZimmerHoldings Announces Agreement with Alabama’s MIS Orthopaedic Research and Education Institute

(WARSAW, IN)  December 10, 2004—Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SWX: ZMH) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Dr. Kenneth Bramlett and the MIS Orthopaedic Research and Education Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, to enhance patient and surgeon education methods related to Zimmer Minimally Invasive Solutions™  (MIS™) Procedures and Technologies.  Dr. Bramlett has been involved with Zimmer in the development of its MIS techniques and has significant clinical experience performing minimally invasive hip, knee and shoulder replacement procedures.

"Dr. Bramlett’s experience and expertise in minimally invasive joint replacement are well known and respected throughout orthopaedics,” said Zimmer Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Elliott.  “We are pleased to be working with him and his team at the MIS Orthopaedic Research and Education Institute to advance the entire process a patient experiences from first contact, including Dr. Bramlett’s pre-habilitation management program.”

According to Dr. Bramlett, the patient benefits he has seen with MIS techniques in his practice encouraged him to take a greater role in education for patients and surgeons.  “Our patients are leaving the hospital the same day of surgery in many cases and we are responsible for their quick return to their previous lifestyles,” said Dr. Bramlett.  “Now we have an opportunity to formally participate in a worldwide network where we can train other surgeons, share our best practices regarding treatment pathways and learn from other outstanding institutions—it’s really a chance for us in Birmingham to participate in development and physician education worldwide.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Dr. Bramlett and his team will work with Zimmer to develop patient and physician education modules that surgeons and clinics can use to further enhance their performance related to MIS joint replacements.  The MIS Orthopaedic Research and Education Institute will host one-on-one surgeon visits for the purposes of MIS procedure training.

Zimmer opened the Zimmer Institute, the flagship of its MIS education efforts, at the company’s headquarters in Warsaw, Indiana, in 2003.  The company says its network of educational locations will contribute to a common pool of data and best practices, enabling each participant to benefit from the experience and developments of the others. The company expects to provide training for more than 1,400 surgeons during 2004 at all Institute locations. 

 

About the MIS Orthopaedic Research and Education Institute

The MIS Orthopaedic Research and Education Institute of Birmingham, Alabama, is an organization of physicians committed to excellence in the practice of medicine as it is applied to all aspects of physical activity.  The Institute’s mission is to set and maintain a specialist standard of excellence in the training of physician and medical professionals in clinical outpatient and inpatient practices.

 

About Zimmer

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of 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. The new Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 80 countries.  As a result of the acquisition of Centerpulse, reported 2003 sales were $1.9 billion.  Full-year 2003 pro forma worldwide sales of Zimmer and Centerpulse were approximately $2.6 billion.  The new Zimmer is supported by the efforts of more than 6,500 employees. 

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Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at 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.

Contact

Media
Brad Bishop
574-372-4291
bradley.bishop@zimmer.com

Investors
Sam Leno
574-372-4790
sam.leno@zimmer.com

Marc Ostermann
574-371-8515
marc.ostermann@zimmer.com