Zimmer Launches Campaign to Promote Long-Lasting Hip Technology

Zimmer Holdings Inc. has launched the nationwide Forever Hip campaign to promote technology that helps its artificial joint last a lifetime.

“Hip replacement is being performed on younger patients who are more active than ever. They need solutions capable of providing improved long-term performance in order to reclaim their mobility and get back to doing the things they enjoy most, being forever hip,” said Matt Monaghan, senior vice president of Global Hips and Reconstructive Research. “Wear-related complications are one of the most jeopardizing factors for long-term implant success.”

In ongoing laboratory testing that has surpassed simulation of more than 34 years of walking activity, Zimmer’s Vivacit-E Vitamin E highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXPE) liners demonstrate ultra-low long-term wear properties under typical conditions and reduce one of the leading barriers to long-term hip replacement success. Based on this extensive research, Vivacit-E Vitamin E HXPE now is the only hip replacement technology laboratory tested to mimic the number of walking steps a patient will typically take during their lifetime following hip replacement surgery, according to the company.

Zimmer’s Vivacit-E Vitamin E HXPE has been evaluated for 80 million walking cycles of simulated wear testing in ongoing laboratory testing. Results assume a hip replacement patient will have a life expectancy of 34 years following hip replacement surgery and walk up to 2.2 million steps per year. The results of laboratory testing have not been proven to predict actual performance in people.

“With the advanced wear resistance of Zimmer’s proprietary Vivacit-E bearing surface, surgeons can now provide a once in a lifetime hip replacement technology for their most demanding patients,” noted Monaghan. “This industry leading technology can potentially help patients avoid pain and lost time due to re-operation, as well as lessen the economic burdens that can strain patients and hospitals.”

Total hip replacements relieve pain and restore mobility in more than 330,000 Americans annually. With patients receiving hip replacements at a younger age, Vivacit-E Vitamin E HXPE can be combined with Zimmer’s other technologies such as Trabecular Metal Material and Biolox delta Ceramic to create an enduring product younger, more active patients.

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Ind., Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopedic 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. Its sales last year were approximately $4.6 billion.