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•Net Sales of $976 million represents an increase of 2.4% reported (3.6% constant currency)
•Diluted EPS for the third quarter were $0.70 reported, a decrease of 26.3% from the prior year period, and $0.88 adjusted, a decrease of 9.3% from the prior year period
•Reaffirms full-year sales and adjusted EPS guidance More »

WARSAW, Ind., July 27, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH) today announced the launch of the new Zimmer Institute. Over the past year, Zimmer has collaborated with teaching surgeons and subject matter experts to develop a unique model for surgeon and clinician training. Combining its Medical Education, BioSkills Training and Surgeon-to-Surgeon programs under one, consolidated service offering, the enhanced Zimmer Institute provides a highly interactive environment for surgeon and clinician education that the Company believes sets new standards for the industry.

A continuum of courses is available through the Zimmer Institute, spanning online learning modules, interactive small group discussions, intensive case study reviews, hands-on cadaver-based training and surgeon-to-surgeon training programs. Course modules have been tailored to match an individual surgeon’s experience level, providing in-depth knowledge on products and procedures. Zimmer Institute courses have a high faculty-to-student ratio and incorporate new technologies, promoting greater interaction with faculty trainers and participant collaboration. Courses are offered at many regional locations worldwide, minimizing the time participants will have to spend away from their practices.

“Advanced professional training is in great demand and our ability to meet this need is vital to supporting our customers,” noted Audrey Beckman, Senior Vice President, Zimmer Institute. “We recognize the importance of being at the forefront of professional education and are committed to providing medical and dental professionals with unparalleled training and course offerings that will not only teach them how to use our products safely and effectively, but will also give them the opportunity to hone and refine their surgical skill sets.”

Courses conducted using the new format have been underway since 2008, and are being rolled out globally, with more than 800 events scheduled in 2009, training more than 12,000 medical professionals and more than 8,000 dental professionals. Additional information regarding the enhanced Zimmer Institute is available at zimmerinstitute.zimmer.com.

BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, JULY 22, 2009

This month JBJS published a review entitled “What’s New in Spine Surgery.” We’ve summarized some of the highlights below.

Positive Outcomes for Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

• In two recent studies, arthroplasty was associated with equal or greater pain relief and functional outcomes when compared to fusion and discectomy. Adverse events were similar in both groups, with fewer reoperations in the arthroplasty group. Satisfactory outcomes were maintained at four years in both the arthroplasty and fusion groups.
  

Biologics Show Promise, But Development is Slow

• BMPs: Results have been “inconsistent” in studies of DePuy’s GDF-5. BMP-7 (Stryker’s OP-1) is reportedly still under review by the FDA, and it has been suggested that the current concentration of the BMP may be insufficient for spinal fusion. BMP-2 (Medtronic’s Infuse) has performed well in studies, but concerns remain about adverse events, particularly in the cervical spine.
  
• Bone graft substitutes: Mesenchymal stem cells remain an area of interest, though the amount of cells needed to elicit a bone-healing response as well as what triggers need to be expressed by the cells is unknown.
  
• Disc degeneration: biologic treatments in this space are developing at a “slow pace,” though a human trial evaluating BMP delivery to discs to prevent degeneration is in development.
  

New Technologies, New Patients for Lumbar Spine Procedures

• SPORT: Compared to nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment resulted in better outcomes for all patients in the study. Compared to patients with primary back pain, patients with primary leg pain improved more with surgical treatment.
  
• Surgery in the elderly: Higher complication rates are observed in this population, though one recent study demonstrated the “substantial benefits” associated with fusion in this group.
  
• New technology: In one study comparing Zimmer’s Dynesys, a pedicle-based dynamic stabilization system, with lumbar posterolateral fusion, the dynamic stabilization group reported a greater improvement in leg pain and back pain scores when compared to fusion, though overall results in both groups were comparable. A separate study evaluating Dynesys found that 20% of patients receiving the device required re-operation at two years. 39% of these cases were attributable to screw loosening, with additional complications including screw breakage and cephalad spinal stenosis.
  

MARQUETTE, Mich., July 10 (HSMN NewsFeed) — Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc., a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of spinal and orthopaedic implants and instruments, has named Thomas J. McLeer as its new Chief Marketing Officer & General Manager of Spinal Operations, effective June 1, 2009.
Mr. McLeer, who had been Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Archus Orthopedics, will be in charge of managing and directing all of Pioneer’s spinal operations, including marketing and sales.

“Tom brings real world spine experience to a high class organization,” noted Jeff Millin, President & CEO of Pioneer Surgical Technology. “He will be a great addition to help us maintain our high growth rate.”

Before joining Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc., Mr. McLeer was responsible for directing all aspects of the creation of a new spinal implant segment at Archus Orthopedics, including world-wide strategy, growth, and development. He developed marketing, distribution, and training to facilitate clinical efforts and established local representation to handle cases in the United States, Europe, South America, and China.

Prior to Archus Orthopedics, Mr. McLeer held the role of Vice President of Business Development at Spinal Concepts, Inc. Previous to that he served as Vice President of Marketing at Interpore Cross, Inc., and in various product management roles at Zimmer, Inc. He also gained market experience serving in sales representative roles at Intermedics Associates, Inc., Howmedica-Johnson, Inc., and Abbott Laboratories early in his career.

Mr. McLeer has also been named inventor on numerous issued or pending medical device patents. Mr. McLeer holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Ohio State University. He and his wife Linda reside with their 12 year-old son in Redmond, Washington.

Source:  Pioneer Surgical Technology