Smith & Nephew introduces the first, pocket-sized, canister-free, portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy system in the EU

HULL, England, May 25, 2011 -

- With Photo

The Advanced Wound Management division of Smith & Nephew, (LSE: SN; NYSE:
SNN) today announced the CE Mark approval for PICO(TM), an effective,
single-use, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) system for acute and
chronic wounds, high-risk surgical incisions and skin grafts. PICO allows
effective fluid management directly through the dressing, eliminating
canisters and expanding negative pressure to a wider number of patients. PICO
is now available throughout the European Union (EU) and was officially
unveiled at the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) conference
taking place in Brussels, Belgium [25-27 May].

(Photo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110525/SF08565)

The PICO system contains a disposable, one-button pump, coupled with an
advanced dressing which negates the need for a bulky canister, simplifying
NPWT. The pump is pocket-sized for the utmost patient privacy and the
innovative dressing can be worn up to seven days.

"A system like PICO that combines the clinical effectiveness of NPWT with
the known benefits of advanced wound care dressings is an ideal solution for
appropriate patients, especially those at high risk in the critical days
following surgery," said Professor Donald Hudson, Head of the Department of
Plastic Surgery at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Groote
Schuur Hospital. "PICO opens up some very interesting possibilities in
treating many kinds of small to medium sized wounds in both hospital and
outpatient settings."

Preclinical studies show that PICO delivered pressure to the wound bed,
tissue contraction and blood flow in a virtually identical fashion to
standard NPWT. In vitro tests also show that PICO was able to deliver
negative pressure and remove exudate at clinically relevant levels without
the need for a canister. This effective and simplified NPWT technology makes
PICO a practical solution that is readily available with minimal
administration and training, allowing clinicians to make the most of their
time and resources.

"At Smith & Nephew we believe it's our responsibility to achieve both
superior patient outcomes as well as conserve resources for healthcare
systems," said Roger Teasdale, President of Smith & Nephew Advanced Wound
Management. "As a leader in wound care, PICO demonstrates our pledge to
providing innovative solutions and reinforces our commitment to reducing the
human and economic cost of wounds."

For more information about PICO, please visit www.mypico.co

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business with global
leadership positions in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and
Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy, including Sports Medicine; and Advanced Wound
Management. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced
wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The
Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons
and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with
high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company has
distribution channels, purchasing agents and buying entities in over 90
countries worldwide. Annual sales in 2010 were nearly $4.0 billion.

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Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
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Analyst/Investor, Phil Cowdy of Smith & Nephew, +44 (0) 20 7401 7646; or Media, Sue Myers of Advanced Wound Management, +44 (0) 1482 673229; or Mary Heather of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, +1-646-359-1193, Mary.Heather at ogilvypr.com, both for Smith & Nephew