Synthes Q3 sales rise 7.5 pct, confirms guidance

ZURICH Oct 21 (Reuters) - Swiss medical device maker Synthes Inc(SYST.VX) posted a 7.5 percent rise in sales in the third quarter, meeting analysts' expectations, as a recovery in the U.S. market added to strong demand growth in Asia and Europe.

The maker of nails, screws and plates to fix broken bones confirmed its 2009 growth forecast, saying sales should grow by a low-double digit percentage figure before currency effects.

Synthes' sales rose 7.5 percent to $868.3 million, the group said, in line with the average analysts' forecasts in a Reuters poll of $869 million.

Sales were 10 percent higher when stripping out currency effects.

(Reporting by Sven Egenter)