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Home > NC Providers > Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD

Accepting New Patients

(1 Rating)

Specializes in: Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine (2009)

Professional interests include: hip problems, robotic surgery, replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement), and more.

120 WILLIAM PENN PLAZA
Durham, NC 27704

(919) 220-5255

Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD is an orthopedist in Durham, NC specializing in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. He graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine in 2009 and has 16 years of experience. Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD is affiliated with UNC Health, EmergeOrtho, UNC Health Alliance and EMERGEORTHO PA.

Office Locations

Address:

120 WILLIAM PENN PLAZA
Durham, NC 27704

Address:

100 Perkins Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Address:

3916 Ben Franklin Boulevard
Durham, NC 27704

Address:

7921 Acc Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27617

Some issues Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD can help you with:

Replacement Arthroplasty (Joint Replacement)

Joint replacement, sometimes also called arthroplasty, is an option when a joint becomes severely damaged by disease or injury. The damaged cartilage of the joint is surgically removed, the ends of the bones in the joint are resurfaced, and a prosthetic is installed. Most prosthetic joints are made of a metal piece that fits into a plastic sleeve so that they glide smoothly. A joint replacement increases stability in the damaged area and decreases pain. The hip and knee are the two joints most commonly replaced, but joint replacement can also be performed on the ankle, shoulder, elbow and even fingers.

Although joint replacement is one of the safest and most reliable medical procedures available, it is still a major surgical procedure. All surgical procedures carry risks, such as infection or blood clots. For this reason, doctors try to help their patients avoid surgery for as long as they can. Taking arthritis medications, losing weight, avoiding high impact sports such as running, taking supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin, or having joint injections may allow a patient to enjoy life without the need for surgery.

After having joint replacement surgery, patients can expect some pain the first few days as they recover. Physical therapy is an important part of recovery, and it can decrease complications and increase future mobility. As soon as possible, returning to low impact sports such as swimming, walking or biking can stretch and heal the new joint. A prosthetic joint can last 15 - 20 years and cannot be further damaged by degenerative diseases such as arthritis, so once it is done patients should be pain-free for many years.

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery, using a tiny opening to get inside the body instead of making a large cut. It uses small tools attached to a thin robotic arm, which is controlled by the surgeon. Robotic surgery may be referred to by the specific kind of robot that is used. The most advanced robot currently in use is called the da Vinci, and surgery using it is sometimes called da Vinci surgery.

There are many benefits to robotic surgery, both for the patient and the surgeon. Robotic surgery allows for more precise movements and increased control during very delicate surgical procedures. This makes performing surgery accurately much easier for surgeons and reduces fatigue. The smaller 'hand' of the robot can enter the body via a much smaller opening, which reduces the risk of infection and scarring and leads to a faster recovery. The robotic hands also contain tiny moveable cameras among their tools, giving surgeons a much closer view of the procedure than would be possible with traditional surgery.

joint surgery	97
lower extremity surgery	97
reconstructive surgery	97

**Gender**
Male	50
Female	72

**Age**
From 65 to 74	61
From 75 to 84	50
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

joint surgery	115
lower extremity surgery	115
reconstructive surgery	115
revision surgery	10

**Gender**
Male	84
Female	160

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	220
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	136
From 75 to 84	84
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	20
Dementia	0
Cancer	14

aspiration	53
doctor visit	148
injections	52
musculoskeletal imaging	56
pelvic imaging	18
X-rays	73

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	82

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	98
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	65
From 75 to 84	41
85 and over	16
Less than 65	14

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	32
Dementia	0
Cancer	8

aspiration	348
doctor visit	888
hip imaging	12
injections	347
joint surgery	30
lower extremity surgery	30
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	12
musculoskeletal imaging	134
pelvic imaging	19
reconstructive surgery	30
spinal procedures	84
X-rays	225

**Gender**
Male	223
Female	457

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	499
Black	158
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	311
From 75 to 84	193
85 and over	82
Less than 65	94

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	28
Dementia	7
Cancer	9

aspiration	235
doctor visit	762
hip imaging	14
injections	234
joint surgery	36
lower extremity surgery	36
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	14
musculoskeletal imaging	112
pelvic imaging	19
reconstructive surgery	36
spinal procedures	55
X-rays	172

**Gender**
Male	213
Female	415

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	479
Black	129
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	306
From 75 to 84	174
85 and over	52
Less than 65	96

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	26
Dementia	7
Cancer	8

aspiration	277
doctor visit	877
hip imaging	24
injections	276
joint surgery	84
lower extremity surgery	84
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	24
musculoskeletal imaging	187
pelvic imaging	18
reconstructive surgery	84
revision surgery	10
spinal procedures	36
X-rays	217

**Gender**
Male	199
Female	477

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	507
Black	138
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	20
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	360
From 75 to 84	197
85 and over	47
Less than 65	72

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	27
Dementia	7
Cancer	11

aspiration	285
doctor visit	827
hip imaging	19
injections	284
joint surgery	59
lower extremity surgery	59
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	19
musculoskeletal imaging	179
reconstructive surgery	59
spinal procedures	64
X-rays	223

**Gender**
Male	227
Female	451

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	524
Black	132
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	339
From 75 to 84	206
85 and over	57
Less than 65	76

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	29
Dementia	7
Cancer	8

aspiration	492
doctor visit	1773
hip imaging	46
injections	509
joint surgery	175
lower extremity surgery	175
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	46
musculoskeletal imaging	397
pain management	17
pelvic imaging	29
reconstructive surgery	175
revision surgery	9
spinal procedures	98
X-rays	478

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2014 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD treated as an orthopedist in Durham, NC were injections, aspiration, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

aspiration	281
doctor visit	880
hip imaging	23
injections	284
joint surgery	86
lower extremity surgery	86
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	23
musculoskeletal imaging	179
pain management	17
pelvic imaging	20
reconstructive surgery	86
revision surgery	10
spinal procedures	68
X-rays	233

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2014 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD.

**Gender**
Female	211
Male	105

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	55
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	232
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	2

**Age**
85 and over	25
75 to 84	94
Less than 65	35
65 to 74	157

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD From 2014 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	47
High Cholesterol	39
Stroke	1
Ischemic Heart Disease	18
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	17
Asthma	6
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	4
Diabetes	18
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Cancer	7
Dementia	2

Education & Training

Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine in 2009. He completed residency at University of Illinois at Chicago Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified and has a state license in Massachusetts.

Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine (2009)

Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago Affiliated Hospitals (2014)

Board Certification: Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified

Licensed In: Massachusetts

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UNC Health

EmergeOrtho

UNC Health Alliance

EMERGEORTHO PA

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Durham, NC.

Overall Rating

(1 Rating)

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Reviews Left On DocSpot

Overall Rating: 5.0 2019-11-24

I choose Dr. Merz for my Total Hip Replacement after interviewing 3 other excellent and widely known surgeons.  His communication skills are superb and he is just an all around terrific person.  My surgery and recovery went perfectly and I am so happy I found this hip expert!

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Michael Kurt Merz, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.	$3,850 Zynrelef $3,850
Medacta USA, Inc.	$3,638 AMIStem $3,012	GMK Sphere $425	Moto Partial Knee $142	MyKnee $59
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.	$1,969 KNEES $993	Taperloc $712	AccuFill $109	HIPS $103	ROSA-Knee $19	Other $32
Linvatec Corporation	$1,210 Linvatec Hip Preservation System $609	Knee Biologics $507	Hall Power $69	LIVATEC KNEE PRESERVATION SYSTEM $25
Smith+Nephew, Inc.	$1,074 Legion Revision $532	K-15 PORK $377	REAL INTELLIGENCE $110	RI Hip Navigation $56
Other	$3,383 iFuse Implant $722	PINNACLE $620	iTotal CR, iTotal PS, iUni, Hip System $535	Mako $359	Advanced Energy Hemostatic Device $166	Other $983

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$8,025
Consulting Fee	$3,850
Food and Beverage	$3,097
Education	$152

Biography

Dr. Michael Merz, who practices in Durham, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Raleigh, NC, is a medical specialist in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Dr. Merz attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine. Areas of expertise for Dr. Merz include replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement). He is affiliated with EmergeOrtho. Dr. Merz has an open panel in Durham, NC according to Doctor.com.