Zimmer's Longevity® Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene Demonstrates Long-Term Clinical Success in Study Presented at AAOS Annual Meeting

Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene Material Continues to Display No Measurable Wear in 10-year Follow-Up Study

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Feb 17, 2011, 04:46 ET

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a leader in musculoskeletal care, today announced that results of an independent study presented at the 2011 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting demonstrated long-term clinical success for Longevity® Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene.

The study, by a team from the Massachusetts General Hospital, included radiographic analysis from a 299 patient cohort receiving primary total hip arthroplasties using Zimmer's Durasul® or Longevity Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene liners. It is the largest series and longest follow-up period to date for highly crosslinked polyethylene material. Radiographic results presented in the study indicate very low wear in vivo with no signs of change over time and no signs of periprosthetic osteolysis in the patient cohort.

Zimmer's Longevity Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene is formulated specifically to resist wear under the conditions found in hips and represents a significant scientific advancement in wear reduction. In wear and damage mechanism studies, Longevity Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene consistently resisted oxidation and delamination, thereby decreasing surface wear and subsurface fatigue that can lead to delamination or pitting.

"The results of this study are encouraging and reinforce clinical experience with our Longevity Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene products," said Jeff McCaulley, President, Zimmer Reconstructive. "Today's total hip replacement candidates lead more demanding lives. Due to its reduced wear properties and improved delamination resistance, Longevity Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene represents a clinically-successful solution for these patients."

For more information about Zimmer's Longevity Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene, visit the Zimmer exhibit at the 2011 AAOS annual meeting, or go to www.zimmer.com.

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 2010 sales were approximately $4.2 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.

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," "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. For a 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.