Zimmer Announces First Clinical Use of Vivacit-E Liner for Trabecular Metal Reverse Shoulder System

WARSAW, Ind., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZMH) announced today its first reverse shoulder replacement in the United States using Vivacit-E^® Liner for the Trabecular Metal™ Reverse Shoulder System.

Zimmer's Vivacit-E Vitamin E Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene (HXPE) is a high-tech bearing surface offering oxidative stability and low wear that has already become a staple of the Company's replacement products for the knee, hip and elbow.¹ Its introduction into the Trabecular Metal Reverse Shoulder System is designed to meet the growing demand for shoulder replacement.  

"The benefits of reverse total shoulder replacement for patients are many," explains Steve Vankoski, Director, Global Marketing of Extremities for Zimmer.  "There are few good treatments remaining if a reverse shoulder wears out, and replacement is a complex surgery often performed on patients who have, over time, lost the ability to raise their arms due to chronic rotator cuff tears."  

In addition to traditional replacements due to normal rotator-cuff wear, reverse total shoulder replacement is also growing in popularity for complex fractures.  

"Vivacit-E technology represents a major advance in reverse shoulder replacement," adds Vankoski.  "With Vivacit-E Vitamin E HXPE, Zimmer has delivered a construct designed for the most demanding shoulder patients. We are excited to bring this new technology, which we have already successfully integrated into our knee, hip and elbow implants, to the Trabecular Metal reverse shoulder to better match patient needs during reverse shoulder replacement."

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 2014 sales were approximately $4.7 billion.  Zimmer is supported by the efforts of more than 9,000 employees worldwide.

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SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

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