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REMINDER: ORLive Presents: Less Invasive PATH Technique for Total Hip Arthroplasty

Live Webcast Featuring Commentary From Tennis Great Jimmy Connors, January 19, 2007 5:00 PM PST

Wright Medical Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WMGI), a global orthopaedic medical device company, will sponsor a webcast highlighting the new PATH® minimally invasive (MIS) technique for total hip arthroplasty, led by Brad Penenberg, MD of Los Angeles, California. The web event will be moderated by Lowry Barnes, MD of Little Rock, Arkansas and will take place Friday, January 19 at 5:00 PM PST (8:00 PM EST) on www.OR-Live.com. The live surgery will feature commentary from tennis great Jimmy Connors, a patient who received Wright's new Conserve® BFH® hip for active patients.

The PATH® surgical technique was co-developed by Wright and Dr. Penenberg. The PATH® MIS technique offers direct and complete access to both the acetabulum and the femur. The PATH® MIS approach eliminates the angular constraints that surgeons have faced with other minimally invasive techniques, specifically posterior techniques that have attempted to use progressively smaller incisions. Unlike other MIS techniques, Wright's less-invasive, percutaneously assisted approach to total hip arthroplasty allows surgeons to remain within their procedure "comfort zone."

The preservation of soft tissue seen in patients treated through Wright's PATH® MIS technique is much more relevant to immediate post-operative improvement than the length of the skin incision. Specifically, the short external rotators are preserved and the gluteus medius is no longer stretched to the same extent as in traditional total hip replacement surgery. In many cases, the result is the patient's ability to perform a straight leg raise in the recovery room. Additionally, the soft tissue preservation of the PATH® technique allows many patients to walk within hours of surgery and, in many cases, walk completely unassisted.

The PATH® MIS technique and instrumentation are designed for use with Wright's PROFEMUR® modular neck hip system, as well as the unique CONSERVE® Total acetabular system with BFH® Technology. The PATH® Technique, coupled with Wright's hip implant innovations, provides Wright's customers tomorrow's technology, today.

"This new hip has given me back my quality of life. It's allowed me to do anything I did before. I invite you to learn more about what it's like to experience hip replacement so you won't be afraid, like I was. So you won't put off reclaiming your active lifestyle," said James Scott Connors.

Visit http://www.or-live.com/Path now to learn more and view a program preview. VNR: http://www.or-live.com/rams/wrm-1637-mkw-q.ram