Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Begins Distribution to Haiti of Trauma Implants and Instruments

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Medical device maker Smith & Nephew's (NYSE: SNN; LSE: SN) Orthopaedics business is making available this week more than $2 million in implants and surgical instruments for use by orthopedic surgeons in the treatment of survivors of last week's earthquake in Haiti.

The donation, set to arrive within days, is a wide range of orthopedic surgical resources used to treat bone fractures.

These resources are being distributed in Haiti by Hope Force International (HFI). Orthopedic surgeons who are trained to use these instruments and who are travelling to Haiti to assist in the relief effort are instructed to contact HFI (hopeforce.org) in the United States at (615) 371-1271 or [email protected].

The primary base of surgical operations and implant distribution for HFI is King's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, although more distribution points may be established in order to more widely deliver the donated implants across the country.

"We have received dozens of calls from orthopedic surgeons who want to know how to help," says Joseph M. DeVivo, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics. "We are attempting to simplify a challenging healthcare process in the aftermath of the earthquake. Centralizing our implants and instruments with HFI will give any US-based or international surgeon who is trained to use them the simplest, quickest way to apply their skills in a Haitian operating room."

"This donation reflects our commitment to serve patients on a global basis," says DeVivo. "We have the means to help, and are doing everything we can to connect our technology with the people and organizations who can use it to heal those most in need."

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management.  Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust.  The Company operates in 32 countries around the world.  Annual sales in 2008 were $3.8 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline.  These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof.  All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing.  Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew

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