Zimmer Funds Research Awards Focused on Women's Health Issues

WARSAW, Ind., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. , a worldwide leader in the orthopaedics industry, announced today that it has funded two $30,000 research awards specifically focused on women's musculoskeletal health issues. The awards were announced at the annual luncheon of The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS), an organization of orthopaedic surgeons dedicated to advancing women's health issues.

The RJOS luncheon is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

The Zimmer Research Award winners, who were selected by a committee of RJOS members, and the titles of their research projects, are:

* Tina Maxian, MD, PhD, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, "Fracture Site Strain and Screw Site Damage after Biologic Fixation of Osteoporotic Supracondylar Femur Fractures;" and

* Mariam Hakim-Zargar, MD, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, "In Vitro Analysis of Tantalum's Effect on Human Bone Formation." Specifically, Dr. Hakim-Zargar will study the effects of tantalum on the bone cells of older women.

Yesterday, Zimmer announced that it was displaying at the AAOS meeting the first knee replacement system designed specifically to address the unique anatomical needs of women patients.

"Zimmer has been a leading supporter of independent orthopaedic research and of diversity in orthopaedic practice and education," said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are also keenly focused on addressing orthopaedic health issues in women, who experience joint replacement at a much higher rate than men. The combination of anatomical differences, which we have addressed in our Gender Solutions(TM) Knee Implants, and other conditions, such as osteoporosis, make women particularly susceptible to musculoskeletal disease. We are committed to playing an important role in helping the orthopaedic profession address these women's issues."

Since 1988, Zimmer has donated more than $4 million in unrestricted funding for orthopaedic research.

Zimmer plans to present these research awards on an annual basis. The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society is responsible for administering the Zimmer Research Award program. A panel of RJOS members reviews all award proposals and makes funding recommendations.

Earlier in the week, Zimmer sponsored the RJOS Practice Management Symposium. Further information about the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society can be found on the RJOS website at http://www.rjos.org/ .

About Zimmer

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer's 2005 sales were approximately $3.3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,700 employees worldwide.

Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://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. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation announced in March 2005, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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.