Zimmer Announces First Implantation of NCB® Periprosthetic Plating System

WARSAW, Ind., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal care, today announced the first implantation of the Zimmer® NCB (Non-Contact Bridging) Periprosthetic Plating System.  Scheduled for full release in the Fall of 2010, the Zimmer NCB Periprosthetic Plating System is the first comprehensive solution available to address complex femoral fractures which can occur around a hip or knee implant.

Hip and knee replacements have been shown to be extremely effective procedures but may be complicated by periprosthetic fractures.  When patients with hip or knee implants suffer femur fractures, their surgical treatment can be particularly demanding and complex.  The Zimmer NCB Periprosthetic Plating System is the first set of plates and screws that specifically addresses the issues of difficult fixation and poor bone quality surgeons face when addressing periprosthetic fractures.

"With the demand for joint replacement rising, it has become increasingly important to provide surgeons with an effective and reliable solution for the potentially difficult fractures which can occur around a hip or knee prosthesis," said Curt Jennewine, Vice President, Marketing Zimmer Trauma.  "The NCB Periprosthetic Plating System offers robust options to surgeons who treat periprosthetic fractures by providing the ability to achieve stable bicortical fixation through a wide plate design, Zimmer's NCB polyaxial locking screw technology and compatibility with the Cable-Ready® Cable Grip System."

The Zimmer NCB Periprosthetic Plating System features a wider plate design in the region near a patient's hip or knee implant allowing for stable fixation around the prosthesis, while a narrow design along the rest of the plate minimizes soft tissue disruption.  The unique stability achieved with this system results from an innovative combination of plate design, polyaxial screw placement and a fixed angle construct.  Bicortical screws can be placed within a 30 degree polyaxial cone and secured at any time intraoperatively using locking caps.  This locking construct provides a high-level of angular stability which can be advantageous when working around a prosthesis or in osteopenic bone.

For cases where bicortical screw fixation cannot be achieved due to poor bone stock or other factors, the Zimmer NCB Periprosthetic Plating System is fully compatible with the cables and cable buttons of the Zimmer Cable-Ready System.  For added flexibility, locking screws and cables may be combined in one construct.  Blunt tip unicortical NCB Screws are also available, creating a system which offers comprehensive solutions for these difficult fractures.

About the Company

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopaedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products.  Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries.  Zimmer's 2009 sales were approximately $4.1 billion.  The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.

Website Information

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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," "assumes," "guides," "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 compliance with the Corporate Integrity Agreement through 2012; the success of our quality initiatives; the outcome of the investigation by the U.S. government into Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters announced in October 2007; price and product competition; changes in customer demand for our products and services caused by demographic changes or other factors; dependence on new product development, technological advances and innovation; shifts in the product category or regional sales mix of our products and services; supply and prices of raw materials and products; control of costs and expenses; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property protection; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; our ability to form and implement alliances; challenges relating to changes in and compliance with governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and foreign government regulators and tax obligations and risks; product liability and intellectual property litigation losses; health care reform measures in the U.S. including the impact of the new excise tax on medical devices, reductions in reimbursement levels from third-party payors and cost-containment efforts of health care purchasing organizations; our ability to retain the independent agents and distributors who market our products; changes in general industry and market conditions, including domestic and international growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the costs of defending or resolving putative class action litigation arising out of trading or ownership of our stock.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be set forth in our periodic reports.  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.

SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.