Robert Merrill - Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists

Robert Merrill, MD

Specialties

Spine

Located In

Danbury, Wilton

(203) 869-1145Online Scheduling

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About

Robert Merrill, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in all aspects of non-surgical and surgical care of the adult and pediatric spine. Dr. Merrill treats conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine including traumatic spinal injuries, spinal deformity, tumors, infection, and degenerative spine conditions.

Dr. Merrill always takes an initial conservative treatment approach including physical therapy, medication, and injections before recommending surgery. When surgery is necessary, he often uses advanced surgical techniques including minimally invasive approaches, operative navigation, and robotics. He values working with his patients to formulate an individualized treatment plan based on the patient’s goals, occupation, and lifestyle.

Dr. Merrill has conducted extensive clinical and basic science research around intervertebral disc degeneration, minimally invasive spine surgery techniques, and adult spinal deformity surgery. Evidence based medicine is central to his approach in caring for patients with any form of spinal pathology.

He received his medical degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Merrill went on to complete a fellowship in spinal surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

In his free time, Dr. Merrill enjoys staying active and spending time with his wife and young son.

Aetna

Commercial Plans (Including APCN Plus, We do not accept regular APCN)
Managed Medicare

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of CT

Commercial and Exchange
Managed Medicare

Blue Cross Blue Shield (Plans Outside CT)

Cards with the “PPO” inside the suitcase logo

CarePartners of Connecticut

Managed Medicare (HMO/PPO)

Cigna

Commercial, MetroNY, and LocalPlus
Cigna+Oscar, Cigna+MVP (CT Locations Only)

ConnectiCare

Commercial and Exchange (Except “Value” Network)
Managed Medicare

Connecticut Medicaid

Connecticut State Workers’ Compensation

EmblemHealth

Emblem Commercial and Exchange (Except for Millennium and Enhanced Care Prime Networks)
Managed Medicare (VIP Prime, Bold, Reserve)

Harvard Pilgrim

Through United Shared Services – ONS Harrison location only.

Medicare (Including Railroad Medicare)

Oxford

Liberty and Freedom Plans

Tricare

UHC/NYSHIP/NY Government Empire Plan

United Healthcare

All Commercial Plans (Except Indemnity and Compass)
Managed Medicare

Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) accepts most major insurance plans. Please see the list of accepted insurance plans above and confirm that ONS participates with your plan prior to scheduling an appointment. Certain insurance plans are limited to specific regions and physicians. If you have additional questions, please call our offices at (203) 869-1145 ext. 279 and our team will be happy to provide additional information.

Locations

Fellowship

Fellowship in Spinal Surgery: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

Medical School

Doctor of Medicine: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY

Residency

Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery: Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA

College

Bachelor of Science: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts – Published & In Press

Kazarian GS, Lovecchio F, Merrill R, Clohisy J, Zhang B, Du J, Jordan Y, Pajak A, Knopp R, Kim D, Samuel J, Elysee J, Akosman I, Shahi P, Johnson M, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Kim HJ. Why didn’t you walk yesterday? Factors associated with slow early recovery after adult spinal deformity surgery. Global Spine J. 2023
Nakarai H, Lovecchio FC, Kim DN, Zhang B, Clohisy JK, Merrill RK, Pajak A, Du J, Kazarian GS, Kaidi AC, Samuel JT, Knopp RL, Kim HJ. The Association of Lumbar Plexus Lengthening with Neurologic Deficit After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila PA 1976). 2023
Maayan O…Merrill RK…Qureshi SA. Ninety Percent of Patients are Satisfied with their Decision to Undergo Spine Surgery for Degenerative Conditions. Spine (Phila PA 1976). 2023
Araghi K, Subramanian T, Haque N, Merrill R, Shahi P, Maayan O, Sheha E, Dowdell J, Iyer S, Qureshi S. Provider Referral Patterns and Surgical Utilization Among New Patients Seen in Spine Clinic. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023;48(12)
Subramanian T, Merrill RK, Shahi P, Pathania S, Aragi K, Maayan O, Zhao E, Shinn D, Kim A, Kamil R, Song J, Dalal SS, Vaishnav AS, Othman Y, Steinhaus ME, Sheha ED, Dowdell JE, Iyer S, Qureshi SA. Predictors, Rates of Subisdence, and Clinical Outcomes Following Expandable Cage Insertion for MI-TLIF. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023
Araghi K, Fourman MS, Merrill RK, Maayan O, Zhao , Pajak A, Subramanain T, Kim DN, Kamil R, Shahi P, Dowdell JE, Sheha D, Iyer S, Qureshi SA. Postoperative Radiculitis After L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. Spine (Phila PA 1976). 2023
Merrill RK, Clohisy JC, Albert TJ, Qureshi SA. Concepts and Techniques in Preventing Cervical Deformity After Spine Surgery. Neurospine. 2023;20(1)
Merrill RK, Ishmael TG, Samdani AF, Hwang SW, Pahys JM, Severe Cervical Kyphosis and Spondyloptosis with Myelopathy in Larsen Syndrome: A Report of Two Cases. Submitted to JBJS Case Connector March 2021

Merrill RK, Ibrahim JM, Machi AS, Raphael JS. Analysis and Review of Automated Risk Calculators Used to Predict Post-Operative Complications After Orthopedic Surgery. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020; 13(3):298-308
Merrill RK, Low SL, Arvind V, Whitaker CM, Illical EM. Length of Stay and 30-day Readmissions After Humeral Shaft Fracture Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Compared to Intramedullary Nailing. Injury. 2020; 51(4):942-946
Thompson J, Merrill RK, Qureshi SA, Leven DM. Compression of the S1 Nerve Root by an Extradural Vascular Malformation: A Case Report and Discussion of Atypical Causes of Lumbar Radiculopathy. Int J Spine Surg. 2020.14(1):96-101
Merrill RK, Turvey BR, Landfair GL, Illical EM. Annual Case Volume Is a Risk Factor for 30-day Unplanned Readmission After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Acetabular Fractures. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2020;106(1):103-108
Vaishnav AS, Merrill RK, Sandhu H, McAnany SJ, Iyer Sravisht, Gang GH, Albert T, Qureshi SA. A Review of Techniques, Time-demand, Radiation Exposure and Outcomes of Skin-Anchored Intra-operative 3D Navigation in Minimally Invasive Lumbar Spinal Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020;45(8):E465-E476
Merrill RK, Ferrandino RM, Hoffman R, Shaffer GW, Ndu A. Machine Learning Accurately Predicts Short-Term outcomes Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Ankle Fractures. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019;58(3):410-416
Merrill RK, Ferrandino RM, Hoffman R, Ndu A, Shaffer GW. Identifying Risk Factors for 30-Day Readmissions Following Triple Arthrodesis Surgery. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019;58(1):109-113
Overley SC, McAnany SJ, Anwar MA, Merrill RK, Lovy A, Guzman J, Zhadanov S, Doshi A, Rothenberg E, Qureshi SA. Predictive Factors and Rates of Fusion in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Utilizing rhBMP-2 or Mesenchymal Stem Cells. International Journal of Spine Surgery. 2019;13(1):46-52

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