Biography

Erik N. Mayer, MD, serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, where he specializes in orthopedic trauma and caring for patients with complex injuries.

He delivers advanced surgical treatment for musculoskeletal trauma involving the extremities, joints, and pelvis. His expertise includes managing hip, femur, tibia, knee, foot, ankle, shoulder, arm, elbow, and wrist fractures, providing individualized treatment for each patient. He treats both acute and chronic fractures, as well as joint dislocations, malunions, and non-unions. In addition, he manages post-traumatic arthritis of the hip, knee, and shoulder and addresses complications that arise from polytrauma. Dr. Mayer also performs reconstructive surgery, limb lengthening, limb salvage, and joint replacement to restore function after severe injuries and arthritis. 

Dr. Mayer built his strong academic foundation in neuroscience at Brigham Young University, where he excelled as a four-year letterman on the Division I men’s volleyball team. He earned his medical degree at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA before completing a rigorous five-year orthopedic surgery residency at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. In his final year of residency, he served as administrative chief resident and received the distinguished John Border Memorial Fellowship from AO Trauma North America. Through this fellowship, he trained at Kantonsspital Graubünden in Switzerland, further expanding his expertise in trauma care.

Following residency, Dr. Mayer completed an orthopedic trauma fellowship at UTHealth Houston, gaining extensive operative and clinical experience at Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center, one of the nation’s busiest Level I trauma centers. Dr. Mayer actively contributes to advancing the field of orthopedic trauma as a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and AO Trauma North America. 

Outside of medicine, he enjoys traveling, cycling, skiing, and spending time with his wife and four children. 

He currently welcomes new patients at our Katy location. You can click here to make an appointment.

Education

Undergraduate Degree
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Medical Degree
Doctor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
AO Fellowship
Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland
Fellowship
Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • Comprehensive orthopedic trauma care for upper and lower extremity injuries, including limb salvage.
  • Complex fractures of the foot, ankle, knee, femur, hip, pelvis/acetabulum, shoulder, arm, elbow, and wrist.
  • Management of fracture complications, including malunion, non-union, infections, and periprosthetic fractures.
  • Periarticular fracture and polytrauma injury management.
  • Pediatric and geriatric trauma care.
  • Limb lengthening, deformity correction, and reconstruction.
  • Treatment of post-traumatic arthritis of the hip, knee, shoulder, and ankle.
  • Reconstructive surgery, including total hip and knee replacement.
  • Achilles, patella, and quadriceps tendon injury repair.

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Mayer EN, Kelley BV, Falgons CG, Amin A, Barth KA, Novak AA, Kellam PJ, Eastman JG, Warne SJ, Routt MLC. Postoperative Hematoma Following ORIF of Anterior Pelvic Ring Injuries: Incidence and Risk of Reoperation. Under Review.
  • Parry JA…Mayer EN, et al. Operative versus nonoperative treatment of stress-positive lateral compression type 1 pelvic ring injuries: A multicenter retrospective propensity-matched analysis. Under Review.
  • Mayer EN, Lee C. Dual Plate Fixation for Distal Femur Fractures – A Novel Percutaneous Medial Plating Technique. Under Review.
  • Upfill-Brown A, Mayer EN, Hwang R, Clarkson S, Brodke D, Devana S, Kelley B, Arshi A, Lee C. Rates and timing of short-term complications following operative treatment of femoral shaft fractures, a national database study. Under review.
  • Kelley BV, Brodke DJ, Upfill-Brown A, Devana SK, Mayer EN, Shi BY, Mooney B, Shah AA, Lee C. Fixation Versus Acute Total Hip Arthroplasty for Acetabular Fracture: A Systematic Review and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Under Review.
  • Mayer EN, Lloyd T, Gill A, Shi B, Brodke D, Upfill-Brown A, Kelley B, Devana S, Lee C. Hemodilution and avoidable blood transfusions: are we over-resuscitating patients after hip fracture surgery? Under Review.
  • Shah AA, Devana SK, Kim C, Zukotysnki BK, Shi BY, Lee C, Upfill-Brown A, Mayer EN, SooHoo NF, Lee C. Predicting discharge destination and length of stay after open reduction internal fixation of distal femur fractures. OTA International. March 2025.
  • Mayer E, Lendhey M, Kelley BV, Shi B, Upfill-Brown A, Devana SK, Brodke DJ, Shah AA, Sekimura T, Gudapati V, Zukotynski B, Witt A, Marciante M, Mahoney JM, Bucklen BS, Lee C. The Effects of Unitizing Nail-Plate Constructs in Distal Femur Fractures: A Biomechanical Study. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. August 2024.
  • Shi BY, Zukotynski BK, Upfill-Brown A, Brodke DJ, Kelley BV, Devana SK, Mayer EN, Shah AA, Lee C. Fracture Lines and Patterns in Intra-articular Distal Femur Fractures. JAAOS. June 2024.
  • Upfill-Brown A, Shi BY, Mooney B, Chiou D, Brodke DJ, Shah AA, Kelley BV, Mayer EN, Devana SK, Lee C, SooHoo NS. Similar medium-term revision rates following acute total hip arthroplasty versus open reduction internal fixation for acetabular fractures in the elderly. JAAOS. April 2024.
  • Mayer EN, Gajewski CR, Bernthal NM, Jensen AR. Arthroscopic debridement for acute hemorrhagic subacromial bursitis following COVID-19 vaccine administration: a case report. Shoulder & Elbow. October 2023.
  • Upfill-Brown A, Shi B, Maturana C, Brodke D, Shah AA, Kelley BV, Mayer EN, Devana SK, Lee C. Higher rates of readmission following acute total hip arthroplasty versus open reduction internal fixation for elderly acetabular fractures, a national study from 2010 to 2019. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. July 2023
  • Lee C, Mayer EN, Bernthal NM, Wenke JC, Holtom PD, O’Toole RV. Orthopaedic Infections: What Have We Learned? OTA International. May 2023
  • Shi BY, Upfill-Brown A, Kelley BV, Brodke DJ, Mayer EN, Devana SK, Kremen TJ, Lee C. Increasing Rate of Shoulder Arthroplasty for Geriatric Proximal Humerus Fractures in the United States, 2010-2019. Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty. November 2022.
  • Stavrakis A, Mayer EN, Devana S, Chowdhry M, Dipane M, McPherson E. Outcomes of Second-stage Reimplantation After Modular Knee Arthrodesis for Periprosthetic Joint Infection. JAAOS Global Research & Reviews. August 2022.
  • Brodke DJ, Upfill-Brown A, Devana SK, Eichenlaub EK, Mahoney JM, Orbach MR, Bucklen BS, Kelley BV, Mayer EN, Shi BY, Lee C. A Critical Analysis of Lateral Versus Central Endpoint in Distal Tibia Nailing: Does It Affect Alignment? Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. January 2022.
  • Stavrakis AI, Mayer EN, Devana SK, Chowdhry M, Dipane MV, McPherson EJ. Outcomes of modular knee arthrodesis for challenging periprosthetic joint infections. Arthroplasty Today. January 2022.
  • Upfill-Brown A, Hwang R, Clarkson S, Brodke D, Devana S, Mayer E, Kelley B, Arshi A, Lee C. Rates and timing of short-term complications following operative treatment of tibial shaft fractures. OTA International. November 2021.
  • Mayer EN, Bernthal NM, Nelson SD, Sassoon AA. Wide en bloc resection of an extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma about the knee with single-stage knee extensor mechanism reconstruction: A case report. Knee. June 2021.
  • Basques BA, Saltzman BM, Korber SS, Bolia IK, Mayer EN, Bach BR, Verma NN, Cole BJ, Weber AE. Resident Involvement in Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Is Not Associated With Increased Short-term Risk to Patients. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. December 2020.
  • Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Mayer EN, Heidari KS, Heckmann N, Pannell WC, Hill JR, McKnight B, Vangsness CT, Hatch GF, Weber AE. Factors Associated With Distal Femoral Osteotomy Survivorship: Data From the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) Registry. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. September 2020.
  • Trasolini NA, Bolia IK, Kang HP, Essilfie A, Mayer EN, Omid R, Gamradt SC, Hatch GF, Weber AE. National Trends in Use of Regional Anesthesia and Postoperative Patterns of Opioid Prescription Filling in Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Procedure-Specific Analysis in Patients With or Without Recent Opioid Exposure. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. June 2020.
  • Weber AE, Nakata H, Mayer EN, Bolia IK, Philippon MJ, Snibbe J, Romano R, Tibone JE, Gamradt SC. Return to Sport After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome in NCAA Division I Athletes: Experience at a Single Institution. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. May 2020.
  • Cannon J, Weber AE, Park S, Mayer EN, Powers CM. Pathomechanics Underlying Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Theoretical Framework to Inform Clinical Practice. Physical Therapy. May 2020.
  • Weber AE, Jalali O, Limfat S, Shkhyan R, Van Der Horst R, Lee S, Lin Y, Li L, Mayer EN, Wang L, Liu NQ, Petrigliano FA, Lieberman JR, Evseenko D. Modulation of Hedgehog Signaling by Kappa Opioids to Attenuate Osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology. August 2020.
  • Weber AE, Alluri RK, Makhni EC, Bolia IK, Mayer EN, Harris JD, Nho SJ. Anatomic Evaluation of the Interportal Capsulotomy Made with the Modified Anterior Portal versus Standard Anterior Portal: Comparable Utility with Decreased Capsule Morbidity. Hip & Pelvis. March 2020.
  • Bedi A, Weber AE, Trasolini NA, Mayer EN, Bolia IK, Higgins J, Hamamoto J, Cole BJ, Bach BR, Verma NN. Does Bone Plug and Graft Orientation (Inferior Versus Posterior) Alter Native Femoral Footprint Coverage in Bone Patellar Tendon Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction? Arthroscopy. July 2020.
  • Pannell WC, Heidari KS, Mayer EN, Zimmerman K, Heckmann N, McKnight B, Hill JR, Vangsness CT, Hatch GF, Weber AE. High Tibial Osteotomy Survivorship: A Population-Based Study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. December 2019.
  • Rugg CM, Wang D, Mayer EN, Sulzicki PL, Vail J, Hame SL. The impact of prior upper-extremity surgery on orthopedic injury and surgery in collegiate athletes. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. July 2019.
  • Hanson HA, Martin C, O’Neil B, Leiser CL, Mayer EN, Smith KR, Lowrance WT. The Relative Importance of Race Compared to Health Care and Social Factors in Predicting Prostate Cancer Mortality: A Random Forest Approach. Journal of Urology. December 2019.
  • Essilfie A, Kang HP, Mayer EN, Trasolini NA, Alluri RK, Weber AE. Are Orthopaedic Surgeons Performing Fewer Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomies in Patients Greater Than 50 Years Old? A National Database Study. Arthroscopy. April 2019.
  • Weber AE, Trasolini NA, Mayer EN, Essilfie A, Vangsness Jr. CT, Gamradt SC, Tibone JE, Kang HP. Injections Prior to Rotator Cuff Repair Are Associated With Increased Rotator Cuff Revision Rates. Arthroscopy. February 2019.
  • Basques BA, Saltzman BM, Mayer EN, Bach BR, Romeo AA, Verma NN, Cole BJ, Weber AE. Resident Involvement in Shoulder Arthroscopy Associated with No Increased Risk to Patients. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. December 2018.
  • Carney J, Heckmann N, Mayer EN, Alluri RK, Vangsness Jr. CT, Hatch III GF, Weber AE. Should Antibiotics Be Administered Before Arthroscopic Knee Surgery? A systematic review of the literature. World Journal of Orthopedics. November 2018.
  • Weber AE, Neal WH, Mayer EN, Kuhns B, Shewman E, Salata MJ, Mather RC, Nho SJ. Vertical Extension of the T-Capsulotomy in Hip Arthroscopy Does Not Affect Force Required for Hip Distraction: Effect of Capsulotomy Size, Type, and Subsequent Repair. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. October 2018.
  • Weber AE, Mayer EN, Nathani A, Chen DX, Kelly AM, Rodeo SA, Bedi A. How Variable are Achilles Allografts Used for ACL Reconstruction? A Biomechanical Study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. July 2018
  • Stone MA, Jalali O, Alluri RK, Mayer EN, Diaz PR, Omid R, Gamradt SC, Tibone JE, Weber AE. Nonoperative Treatment for Injuries to the In-Season Throwing Shoulder: A Current Concepts Review with Clinical Commentary. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. April 2018.
  • Heckmann N, Sivasundaram L, Heidari KS, Weber AE, Mayer EN, Omid R, Vangsness CT, Hatch GF. Propionibacterium Acnes Persists Despite Various Skin Preparation Techniques. Arthroscopy. June 2018.
  • Weber AE, Locker PH, Mayer EN, Cvetanovich GL, Tilton AK, Erickson BJ, Yanke AB, Cole BJ. Clinical Outcomes Following Microfracture Surgery for Isolated and Multi-Site Defects of the Knee: Mid-Term Follow-Up. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. February 2018.
  • Weber AE, Zuke W, Mayer EN, Forsythe B, Getgood A, Verma NN, Bach BR, Bedi A, Cole BJ. Lateral Augmentation Procedures in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Anatomic, Biomechanical, Imaging, and Clinical Evidence. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. February 2018.
  • Thompson SE, Smith ZA, Hsu WK…Mayer EN, et al. C5 Palsy After Cervical Spine Surgery: A Multicenter Retrospective Review of 59 Cases. Global Spine Journal. April 2017.
  • Schroeder GD, Hilibrand AS, Arnold PM…Mayer EN, et al. Epidural Hematoma Following Cervical Spinal Surgery. Global Spine Journal. April 2017.
  • Wang JC, Buser Z, Fish D…Mayer EN, et al. Intraoperative Death during Cervical Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multi-center Study. Global Spine Journal. April 2017.
  • Swarup I, Shields M, Mayer EN, Hendow CJ, Burket JC, Figgie MP. Outcomes after total hip arthroplasty in young patients with osteonecrosis of the hip. HIP International. February 2017.
  • Mayer EN, Jessop TC, Lenherr SM, Hanson HA, Lowrance WT. Gender Differences in Publication Productivity among Academic Urologists in the United States. Urology (Gold Journal). February 2017.
  • Hanson HA, Mayer EN, Anderson RE, Aston KI, Carrell DT, Berger J, Lowrance WT, Smith KR, Hotaling JM. Risk of childhood mortality in family members of men with poor semen quality. Human Reproduction. January 2017.
  • Mayer EN, Tward JD, Bassett M, Lenherr SM, Hotaling JM, Brant WO, Lowrance WT, Myers JB. Management of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grade 4 urinary adverse events after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. British Journal of Urology International. July 2016.
  • Wang D, Rugg CM, Mayer EN, Lai WC, Vail J, Hame SL. Precollegiate Knee Surgery Predicts Subsequent Injury Requiring Surgery in NCAA Athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. March 2016.
  • Myers JB, Mayer EN, Lenherr S. Management options for sphincteric deficiency in adults with neurogenic bladder. Translational Andrology and Urology. February 2016.
  • Mayer EN, Myers JB, Dechet CB. Urethrectomy. Hinman’s Atlas of Urologic Surgery, 4th Edition. 2017.