Zimmer Introduces a new Porous Metal Interbody Implant for Lumbar Spine at SpineWeek 2012

- Implant Fuses to Spine with Boney In-Growth, Distributing Load More Evenly

AMSTERDAM, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH) a global leader in musculoskeletal health, today introduced the TM Ardis™ Interbody System, a new porous metal interbody implant for lumbar spine at the 2012 SpineWeek meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  SpineWeek is an annual meeting of the leading scientific spine societies from around the world.

The TM Ardis Interbody System extends the applications of Zimmer's proprietary Trabecular Metal™ Technology, which is currently used across the Company's portfolio, including for cervical spine products.

"The TM Ardis System is the latest innovation from Zimmer Spine, and we are excited to make this unique implant available to European surgeons and their patients," said Steve Healy, President, Zimmer Spine.  "This system, which incorporates Trabecular Metal Technology, is truly differentiated and we are confident it will offer clinical advantages in the treatment of degenerative disc disease."

Trabecular Metal Material is a highly-porous material that resembles the structure, function and physiology of trabecular bone.  No other porous metal material is supported by the amount of peer-reviewed, published clinical data as Trabecular Metal Technology.  Trabecular Metal Material supports bone in-growth between the implant and the bone, enabling biologic fixation.

Leveraging the unique properties of this exciting material, Zimmer designed the TM Ardis implant with a large surface area available for biologic fixation which means that the Trabecular Metal Material of the implant can more evenly distribute the load and decrease the risk of stress shielding. The TM Ardis implant also features an updated, anatomical shape which allows the implant to be inserted into the disc space more easily.  The TM Ardis Interbody System has one of the most extensive size offerings on the market to allow the implant to more closely match a variety of patient anatomies.  

The TM Ardis Interbody System is now being released commercially across Europe.

The TM Ardis Interbody System is indicated for use as an intervertebral body fusion device at one or two contiguous levels in the lumbosacral region (L2-S1) in the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) with up to Grade 1 spondylolisthesis or retrolisthesis at the involved level(s).  DDD is defined as discogenic back pain with degeneration of the disc confirmed by history and radiographic studies.  Patients with previous non-fusion spinal surgery at involved level may be treated with the device.  Patients should be skeletally mature and have had six months of non-operative treatment.

The TM Ardis Interbody System is implanted using a posterior or transforaminal approach and is intended to be used singly or in pairs with supplemental fixation.

For more information about the TM Ardis porous metal implant for lumbar spine go to www.zimmerspine.eu. 

About Zimmer
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 2011 sales were approximately $4.5 billion.  The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,500 employees worldwide.  For more information, please visit our website 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," "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.