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Exactech Says Patent-Pending Optetrak CR Slope " Knee System Demonstrates Excellent Performance, Broad Applicability in Earl

^{Published on 2008-12-17 10:51:11 - Market Wire}
 

GAINESVILLE, Fla.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Exactech, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXAC), a developer and producer of bone and joint restoration products for hip, knee, shoulder, spine and biologic materials, said today that surgeons are experiencing excellent early results with its new Optetrak® CR Slope™ knee system. Introduced in Q4 2008, the patent-pending CR Slope design builds on the company's flagship Optetrak knee system.

Unlike other cruciate-retaining (CR) knee implant systems, which represent approximately 50 percent of the worldwide market for knee replacement implants, the Optetrak CR Slope knee features varying posterior tibial slopes, in addition to choices in size and thickness. These features were designed to offer surgeons a new approach for preserving the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) for knee replacement patients.

Orthopaedic surgeon Bernard Stulberg, MD, Lutheran Hospital/Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, said, "Since CR Slope inserts have become available to us, I have found them useful in more than 95 percent of the total knee arthroplasties I have performed. Post-operatively, I think these patients find it easier to gain flexion and seem more stable through the entire arc of knee flexion."

The Optetrak CR Slope's patent-pending knee system is designed to:

• Preserve the integrity and balance of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
• Preserve bone
• Restore knee joint stability
• Enhance Optetrak's stable joint geometry, patello-femoral tracking and minimal wear rate
• Provide surgical instruments that achieve consistency, ease of use and predictable bone resection

Exactech offers the Optetrak CR Slope in addition to its standard polyethylene insert for CR knees. Both feature net compression molded polyethylene, which has been a key factor in the Optetrak knee system's function and longevity.

About Exactech

Based in Gainesville, Fla., Exactech develops and markets orthopaedic implant devices, related surgical instruments and biologic materials and services to hospitals and physicians. The company manufactures many of its orthopaedic devices at its Gainesville facility. Exactech's orthopaedic products are used in the restoration of bones and joints that have deteriorated as a result of injury or diseases such as arthritis. Exactech markets its products in the United States and Australia, in addition to more than 30 markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Additional information about Exactech, Inc. can be found at [ http://www.exac.com ].

Copies of Exactech's press releases, SEC filings, current price quotes and other valuable information for investors may be found at [ http://www.exac.com ] and [ http://www.hawkassociates.com ]. An investment profile on Exactech may be found at [ http://www.hawkassociates.com/profile/exac.cfm ].

Investors may contact Chief Financial Officer Jody Phillips at 352-377-1140 or Julie Marshall or Frank Hawkins, Hawk Associates Inc., at 305-451-1888, e-mail: [ exactech@hawkassociates.com ]. To receive future releases in e-mail alerts, sign up at [ http://www.hawkassociates.com/about/alert ].

This release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which represent the company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events of the company's financial performance. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the effect of competitive pricing, the company's dependence on the ability of third party manufacturers to produce components on a basis which is cost-effective to the company, market acceptance of the company's products and the effects of government regulation. Results actually achieved may differ materially from expected results included in these statements