Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews General Payments Back to Top

Home > NC Providers > Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD

Accepting New Patients

(Robert J. Esther, MD)

(33 Ratings)

Specializes in: Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery and General Practice

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1998)

Professional interests include: cancer, musculoskeletal problems

102 Mason Farm Road Second Floor
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

(984) 974-5700

Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD is an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC specializing in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery and general practice. He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1998 and has 28 years of experience. Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD is affiliated with UNC Health, UNC Hospitals and UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL.

Office Locations

102 Mason Farm Road Second Floor
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD can help you with:

Musculoskeletal Problems

The musculoskeletal system refers collectively to the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. It is what gives the body structure and movement. Because this system encompasses so much of the body, musculoskeletal problems are extremely varied and can happen almost anywhere. There are musculoskeletal problems that affect only the joints, those that affect the bones, those that affect tendons and ligaments, and those that can happen in any area of the body but cause pain and numbness.

Joint problems include bursitis and arthritis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a fluid-filled sac cushion on the outside of a joint, causing symptoms including pain and swelling. Arthritis is the inflammation and damage of a joint due to wear and tear or disease. There are several treatments for arthritis, but if the damage progresses far enough, joint replacement may be necessary. In joint replacement, a metal or plastic implant is surgically placed within the joint to make movement easier.

Bone problems include scoliosis, fractures, and osteoporosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, making the normally straight spine look like a 'C' or 'S.' It is treated with braces or surgery. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and break easily. It's most common in women, especially older women. Fully half of all women over 65 have osteoporosis. Fractures are any break in the bone. They can be a simple crack or a severe and complicated shatter. Osteoporosis causes fractures in people who have it, but other causes are trauma (such as a fall) or overuse.

Tendon and ligament problems most often result from injury or overuse. Two good examples are ligament tears and tendonitis. The most common ligament tear is the ACL tear in the knee. This ligament supports and stabilizes the knee and is most often torn during sports activities. Tendonitis happens when a tendon, which connects muscles and bones together, becomes irritated and inflamed. This happens most often in older patients who push their bodies too far, leading to pain and swelling. Treatment for both tendon and ligament problems usually includes rest, ice, and supporting the area to let it heal.

Pain and numbness problems can be caused by overuse, disease, an injury, or a compressed nerve. Lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are two of the most common conditions patients encounter. Lower back pain may be caused by sore muscles that have been overworked, or an injury to the disks separating the vertebrae in the spine. Lower back pain usually goes away on its own within a few days, but it may require medical treatment depending on the cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerve at the base of the palm becomes trapped or pinched. Symptoms include tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand. Treatment involves rest and sometimes steroid injections.

Because the musculoskeletal system involves so much of the body, problems here can be incredibly varied in their type and severity. Some musculoskeletal problems will go away on their own or only require rest, while others may require medication, physical therapy, or even surgery.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	183

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC during 2013 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	15
doctor visit	222
injections	15

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	73
Female	97

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	133
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	74
From 75 to 84	40
85 and over	16
Less than 65	40

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2013

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	25
Dementia	14
Cancer	22

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC during 2014 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	194
hospital care	25
inpatient care	25

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	76
Female	93

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	126
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	70
From 75 to 84	29
85 and over	22
Less than 65	48

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2014

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	23

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	171
hospital care	72
inpatient care	72

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	144
Female	194

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	238
Black	68
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	136
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	116

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2015

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	33
Dementia	12
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	163

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	71
Female	82

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	111
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	17
Less than 65	34

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2016

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	36
Dementia	18
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	187
hospital care	13
inpatient care	13

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	85
Female	79

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	131
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	69
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	18
Less than 65	42

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2017

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	32
Dementia	14
Cancer	18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	191
hospital care	16
inpatient care	16

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	84

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	120
Black	36
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

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

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2018

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	29
Dementia	17
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	174
hospital care	34
inpatient care	34

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	84
Female	79

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	117
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	77
From 75 to 84	38
85 and over	14
Less than 65	34

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2019

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	28
Dementia	18
Cancer	20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	139

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	68
Female	71

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	107
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	62
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	20
Less than 65	18

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	30
Dementia	24
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	160

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	70
Female	85

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	113
Black	31
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	58
From 75 to 84	52
85 and over	14
Less than 65	31

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2021

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	31
Dementia	19
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	153

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	66
Female	66

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	101
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	58
From 75 to 84	49
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	33
Dementia	0
Cancer	31

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated as an orthopedist in Chapel Hill, NC were hospital care, inpatient care, aspiration and injections.

aspiration	15
doctor visit	176
hospital care	32
injections	15
inpatient care	32

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD.

**Gender**
Male	74
Female	84

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	12
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	117
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	33
85 and over	11
Less than 65	33
65 to 74	67

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	11
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	27
Atrial Fibrillation	12
Dementia	12
Cancer	18

Education & Training

Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1998. He completed residency at University of North Carolina (UNC) Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified and has a state license in North Carolina.

Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1998)

Residency: University of North Carolina (UNC) Affiliated Hospitals (2004)

Board Certification: Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified

Licensed In: North Carolina

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UNC Health

UNC Hospitals

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: WellCare, AmeriHealth Caritas, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), MedCost, UnitedHealthcare, Carolina Complete Health, Liberty Advantage, Contigo Health, Veterans Affairs, Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare, Medicaid, OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health), CHAMPVA, Centene, Group Health Plan (GHP), HealthTeam Advantage, MedCost PPO, FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company Group Health Plans, North Carolina State Health Plan, Atlantic (Packaging) Corporation, Inc. (administered by Lucent Health), BCBSNC Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance (Blue Home with Novant Health is out of network), FirstCarolinaCare FirstMedicare Direct, Contigo Health Plan (WakeMed employees only) (out-of-network beginning January 1, 2026), Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN+) (Tier 2), BCBSNC Group Health Plans (except for Blue High Performance Network (BlueHPN)), Aetna Whole Health (Tier 2), Meritain Health, an Aetna Company, Longevity Health Plan I-SNP and Veterans Affairs Community Care Network.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

WellCare

AmeriHealth Caritas

Aetna

Humana

Cigna

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (BCBSNC)

MedCost

UnitedHealthcare

Carolina Complete Health

Liberty Advantage

Contigo Health

Veterans Affairs

Medicare Advantage

United Healthcare

Medicaid

OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health)

CHAMPVA

Centene

Group Health Plan (GHP)

HealthTeam Advantage

MedCost PPO

FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company Group Health Plans

North Carolina State Health Plan

Atlantic (Packaging) Corporation, Inc. (administered by Lucent Health)

BCBSNC Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance (Blue Home with Novant Health is out of network)

FirstCarolinaCare FirstMedicare Direct

Contigo Health Plan (WakeMed employees only) (out-of-network beginning January 1, 2026)

Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN+) (Tier 2)

BCBSNC Group Health Plans (except for Blue High Performance Network (BlueHPN))

Aetna Whole Health (Tier 2)

Meritain Health, an Aetna Company

Longevity Health Plan I-SNP

Veterans Affairs Community Care Network

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.97 out of 5 stars based on 33 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Robert J. Esther, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Chapel Hill, NC.

4.97

Overall Rating

(33 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation Inc.	$16,190 $16,190
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.	$116 KNEES $116
LinkBio Corp	$97 $97

**Types of Payments**
Honoraria	$11,375
Travel and Lodging	$4,697
Food and Beverage	$332

Biography

Dr. Robert Esther's areas of specialization are general practice and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery; he sees patients in Chapel Hill, NC. Areas of expertise for Dr. Esther include cancer and musculoskeletal problems. He is rated highly by his patients. Dr. Esther can accept UnitedHealthcare, Blue California, and Coventry, as well as other insurance carriers. He attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of North Carolina (UNC) for residency. He is professionally affiliated with UNC Hospitals. Dr. Esther's practice in Chapel Hill, NC is open to new patients as reported by UNC Health.