HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., Dec. 22, 2005—Orthofix International, N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) announced today that Keith E. Jansen, 42, has joined the Company as Vice President and General Manager of Orthofix’s Vascular business, which is a new management position at Orthofix.

Mr. Jansen joins Orthofix from Cortek, Inc., where he served as Vice President of Sales since January 2004. His major responsibilities in this position included oversight of Cortek’s 50+ distributors and 200+ sales representatives responsible for Cortek’s spinal implant allograft business. He joined Cortek in February 2001 as Director of Marketing and was responsible for launching six new spine products and developing Cortek’s overall branding strategy. Prior to Cortek, Mr. Jansen spent 13 years at Boston Scientific Corporation, where he held several positions in Sales and Marketing management—including Market Manager for the $150 million peripheral stent, vascular graft and vena cava filter product franchises. Mr. Jansen’s final position at Boston Scientific was Director of Sales Planning, in which he developed a global training and education team and curriculum. He also led several multi-disciplinary project teams comprised of Sales, Marketing, Research and Development, Regulatory, Operations and Quality Assurance members. Mr. Jansen graduated with a degree in Economics from Bucknell University in 1985. In his senior year at Bucknell, he captained the school’s varsity football team.

"Keith Jansen represents another significant hire for Orthofix. His outstanding achievements at Cortek and Boston Scientific in the spine and vascular sectors, respectively, during the past 17 years will help us focus strategic initiatives related to our spine and vascular businesses going forward," said Charles Federico, Group President and CEO of Orthofix.

"Our strong balance sheet places us in an enviable position as we enter the new year," added Alan Milinazzo, Chief Operating Officer for Orthofix. "Certainly, Keith Jansen’s accomplishments in building successful spine and vascular businesses are expected to help Orthofix hone its strategic focus in these areas of opportunity."


ABOUT ORTHOFIX INTERNATIONAL, N.V.

Orthofix International, N.V., a global diversified orthopedic products company, offers a broad line of minimally invasive surgical, as well as non-surgical, products for the Spine, Reconstruction, and Trauma market sectors that address the lifelong bone-and-joint health needs of patients of all ages – helping them achieve a more active and mobile lifestyle. Orthofix’s products are widely distributed around the world to orthopedic surgeons and patients – via Orthofix’s sales representatives and its subsidiaries, including Breg, Inc., and via partnerships with other leading orthopedic product companies, such as Medtronic Sofamor Danek and Kendall Healthcare. In addition, Orthofix is collaborating in R&D partnerships with leading medical institutions such as the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Innovative Spinal Technologies and National Osteoporosis Institute. For more information about Orthofix, please visit www.orthofix.com.