Dr. Merz graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree at Baylor University before attending medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. After finishing medical school he completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois in Chicago. In his final year of residency he served as the administrative chief resident.
Dr. Merz completed two fellowships after residency – adult reconstruction and hip preservation. He was an Otto E. Aufranc fellow in adult reconstruction at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, MA. While there he had extensive training in primary and revision total hip and knee surgeries as well as partial knee replacement. Due to his specific interest in the hip, Dr. Merz completed a second fellowship in hip preserving surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School. He had comprehensive training with leaders in the field in hip conditions for patients from birth through middle age that included both arthroscopy and osteotomies of the pelvis and femur. Specific conditions that he treats include: hip dysplasia (DDH), femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) or hip impingement, hip labral tears, Perthes disease, avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hip, femoral anteversion, and congenital hip dislocation. Dr. Merz has a great interest and passion for preventing arthritis of the hip joint through hip preservation.
When treating patients, Dr. Merz offers a comprehensive approach that involves patients in the discussion of the risks and benefits associated with surgical versus nonsurgical treatment. When surgery is required, he incorporates less invasive techniques to minimize discomfort and improve recovery time.
In addition to general orthopaedics his specific areas of surgical expertise are:
- Hip arthroscopy
- Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)
- Anterior hip replacement
- Total and partial knee replacement
- Revision hip and knee replacement
- Computer or robotically assisted joint replacement
- Proximal femoral osteotomies
- Knee arthroscopy
- Fracture care of the hip, knee and pelvis
Dr. Merz sees patients of all ages and operates primarily at North Carolina Specialty Hospital, Triangle Orthopaedics Surgery Center and Duke Regional Hospital. He additionally has privileges at Granville Medical Center and Person Memorial Hospital.
