OMTEC's Opening Keynote Emphasizes Increasing Demand for Orthopaedic Procedures

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned orthopaedic industry
expert, Shirley A. Engelhardt, kicked off the 5th Annual Orthopaedic
Manufacturing & Technology Exposition and Conference (OMTEC), reminding
attendees that 6.5 billion people on the planet will one day need orthopaedic
care.

"By our estimates, each year between now and 2020, some 167 million people
worldwide could encounter an orthopaedic problem that can be fixed by our
industry," said Mrs. Engelhardt. "Population demographics are playing well
into the orthopaedic hand, with the over-65 group growing four times faster
than the population overall." However, and quite interestingly, Mrs.
Engelhardt went on to point out that a robust potential for growth lies in the
4.4 billion people under the age of 40. "There is no discounting the thousands
of procedures required by aging Boomers, but there are twice as many people
under the age of 40 who will be choosing orthopaedic treatment over the next
several decades."

Mrs. Engelhardt remains bullish about orthopaedics, but not unrealistic. She
admits, "We've seen some slowdown in capital equipment purchases, and hospital
admissions have fallen in some areas due to patients postponing elective
surgeries. Spinal fusion and joint replacement may be delayed, but patients
can't deny themselves quality of life forever." Furthermore, she continued,
"Fractures will still require repair, as will torn rotator cuffs and ACLs."

Mrs. Engelhardt's standing-room-only address went on to predict market growth
by procedures, price and mix and segment. "Even if the market's growth slows
to 3%, 2009 revenues will reach $36.8BB, an incremental $1.1BB. Not too
shabby."

A bulk of Mrs. Engelhardt's presentation data will be contained in THE
ORTHOPAEDIC INDUSTRY ANNUAL REPORT, scheduled for release in mid-July from
ORTHOWORLD. To learn more about Shirley Engelhardt and OMTEC, visit
www.orthoworld.com.

ORTHOWORLD Inc.
Julie A. Vetalice
Editor, Information Products
julie@orthoworld.com
440.543.2101

Founded in 1992, ORTHOWORLD is the only publisher in the world solely focused
on the global orthopaedic market. Its singular mission is helping orthopaedic
companies and individuals achieve their growth directives.

SOURCE ORTHOWORLD Inc.

Julie A. Vetalice, Editor, Information Products of ORTHOWORLD Inc.,
+1-440-543-2101, julie@orthoworld.com