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Thorsten Markus Seyler

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
Box DUMC 104002, Durham, NC 27710
311 Trent Drive, Box 104002, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Based on a recent market research survey, the U.S. demand for implantable medical devices is forecast to increase 7.7% annually to $52 billion in 2015. While orthopedic implants remain the largest segment, implantable devices are frequently used in urology, cardiovascular specialties, neurology, gynecology, and otolaryngology. With the increased usage of implantable devices, the number of biofilm-associated infections has emerged as a significant clinical problem because biofilms are often resistant to traditional antimicrobial therapy and difficult to eradicate. In fact, biofilm cells show as much as a 1000-fold more resistance to traditional antimicrobial therapy than their planktonic cell counterparts and biofilm-based microbial infections make up to 80% of all infections in patients, leading the CDC to declare biofilms to be one of the most important medical hurdles of the century. 

Since microbial biofilms are a major clinical concern, my lab seeks to (a) advance the ability to diagnose biofilm-associated infections, (b) understanding of the formation of biofilms, and (c) develop/use novel treatment approaches to prevent and treat biofilm-associated infections. 

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery · 2021 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center · 2021 - Present Duke Regeneration Center, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published March 27, 2024
Addressing Health Disparities with the Schweitzer Fellowship Program

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Recent Publications


Femoral Fixation for Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty-An International Registry Perspective.

Journal Article Arthroplast Today · August 2025 BACKGROUND: The preferred method for femoral fixation (FF) during total hip arthroplasty (THA) has varied internationally. While prior studies explored trends within single countries or small international cohorts, there's a paucity of studies comparing in ... Full text Link to item Cite

How Do Patient-Reported Outcomes Correlate With Real-Time Objective Measures of Function After Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Prospective Study Using Daily Gait Metrics.

Journal Article J Arthroplasty · July 2025 BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential for evaluating patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). While wearable technologies offer objective measures of physical function through Apple HealthKit, their relationship with PROs in ... Full text Link to item Cite

Fitting the Knee to the Patient, Not the Other Way Around: A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Total Knee Arthroplasty Implant Fit.

Journal Article J Arthroplasty · July 2025 BACKGROUND: Despite the growing interest in alternative alignment strategies, advancement in surgical technique, and implant design, several studies have demonstrated that a large number of patients continue to be dissatisfied following total knee arthropl ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


ARRAY: A novel polymeric mesh for prophylactic antibiotic protection of cardiac implantable electronic devices

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by 21MedTech, LLC · 2023 - 2026

G7® Acetabular System

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Zimmer Biomet Company · 2021 - 2025

Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Patients Undergoing Elective TJA

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation · 2019 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Wake Forest University · 2014 Ph.D.
Ruprecht Karl University (Germany) · 2005 M.D.