Clinical Benefits of Wright Medical Group Inc.'s MICRONAIL Intramedullary Distal Radius Fixation to be Presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Meeting in San Antonio, September 22-24, 2005.

ARLINGTON, Tenn. -- Wright Medical Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WMGI), a global orthopaedic medical device company, announced today that a 23-patient clinical series on MICRONAIL(TM) Intramedullary Distal Radius System outcomes will be presented at the 2005 meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH). Virak Tan, MD, Associate Professor of Hand Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, will present the outcomes during the Joint Papers Scientific Session on Thursday, September 22 at 3:35 p.m. Central Time.

Positive MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System Outcomes Include Early Return of Wrist and Hand Function

Dr. Tan's preliminary results of distal radius fracture treatment with the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System show faster return of wrist function compared to previously published studies on conventional plating. "The six-month results are very encouraging and lead us to believe that the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System may be allowing faster return of hand and wrist function than volar or dorsal plating," explains Dr. Tan. "Measurements for ranges of motion and grip strength were excellent, particularly in the very early timepoints. Because of the minimal tissue trauma and high stability of the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System, I am not using post-op splints on many of my patients now, opting rather for a soft tissue dressing."

Dr. Tan further explains, "I have recently had two MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System patients inform me that they were driving cars three weeks after surgery. In my group's experience this rapid recovery is not typically seen with conventional plates and is important for patients who rely on fast return of function of the injured arm."

Opinion-Leading Surgeon Adoption Increases with Positive Clinical Data

Since the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System's launch in February 2005, Wright has cadaver-trained 220 surgeons on the system's technique. "While very early in the adoption curve, we are pleased with our progress. Particularly encouraging is the increase in university-based hand and trauma surgeons employing the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System as their treatment of choice for most of their wrist fractures," says John T. Treace, Vice President and General Manager of Wright's Bio-Extremity Division.

Joseph J. Thoder, MD, Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at Temple University School of Medicine, comments, "I have made the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System my treatment of choice for metaphyseal fractures of the distal radius that are non-articular or non-displaced intra-articular. The implant can be inserted with minimal surgical trauma and provides sufficient stability to allow patients to use a removeable splint or a soft support at two weeks after surgery. This allows for increased hand use very early in a patient population who often needs to be self-sufficient. Comparing the functional gains for my MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System patients to those treated with percutaneous pinning or external fixation shows much earlier return to independence in the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System patients."

Matthew D. Putnam, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics and Director of Hand Surgery at University of Minnesota, adds, "Clinical outcomes of the fractures that we have treated with the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System are equal to or better than those I have seen with other methods. The reduced post-operative swelling and ease of finger and forearm motion recovery has been exceptional."

Joseph F. Slade, III, MD, Director of Hand and Upper Extremity Service at Yale University School of Medicine, notes, "Dorsal plating of distal radius fractures often results in complications due to the proximity of tendons and nerves to these metal implants. The ability to introduce an intramedullary device completely within the distal radius for the rigid fixation of selected fractures prevents these complications and permits the early recovery of hand function."

Wright To Increase Surgeon Training for the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System

Responding to heightened surgeon interest in the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System, Wright plans to increase cadaveric training venues for surgeons. "During the ASSH meeting we plan to train 60 surgeons on the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System using our new, state-of-the-art mobile training facility," said Boyd Peters, Product Manager for Wright's Upper Extremity Products. "As the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System utilizes new technology, it is our responsibility to offer surgeons a realistic surgical simulation. Our mobile training facility provides surgeons that opportunity," Mr. Peters concludes.

There are over 300,000 distal radius fractures treated in the US annually. Wright estimates more than half of these fractures are candidates for the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System.

The introduction of the MICRONAIL(TM) Fixation System builds upon Wright's market leadership in treatment of the radius with its EVOLVE(R) Modular Radial Head for use in the proximal radius. Over 8,000 EVOLVE(R) radial heads have been implanted to date. The EVOLVE(R) Modular Radial Head is supported clinically by several studies, including positive two-year outcomes data that were presented at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) Meeting in 2004 and at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Meeting in 2005.

About Wright

Wright Medical Group, Inc. is a global orthopaedic medical device company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive joint devices and biologics. The Company has been in business for more than 50 years and markets its products in over 60 countries worldwide. For more information about Wright Medical, visit our website at www.wmt.com.

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, beliefs, estimates, and expectations and express management's current views of future performance, results, and trends. The Company wishes to caution readers that actual results might differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 under the heading, "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results," and in its quarterly reports), which could cause the Company's actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements are accurate, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate. A forward-looking statement should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that the results described therein will be achieved. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement after this date.