Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD
Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon
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About Me
The desire to explore, research, and understand things in great detail has been the driving force throughout my career. This passion drew me to foot and ankle. I am focused on taking great care of patients, teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows, and collaborating on the continuous development of foot and ankle surgery research.
- Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery 2024
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Areas of Expertise
- Ankle Arthritis
- Ankle Instability
- Big Toe Arthritis
- Ligament Injuries
- Midfoot Arthritis
- Bunion Surgery
- Achilles Tendon Injury
- Ankle Replacement Surgery
- Flatfoot
- Osteochondral Lesions
Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
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Clinical Focus and Research
I put my research efforts into solving orthopedic foot and ankle riddles yet to be answered. For example, which flatfoot patients have higher chances of collapsing? When should surgical treatment be recommended? I strive to answer questions like these with the help of three-dimensional weight-bearing computed tomography imaging and other enabling technologies. Ankle instability, foot and ankle sports/soccer injuries, Achilles tendinopathy/ruptures, hallux valgus and hallux rigidus, midfoot arthritis, ankle arthritis, and ankle replacements are other areas of research interest and expertise.
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Evaluating Complex 3D Characteristics of Lower ExtremityIRB# PRO00113752
- The MTA3D Study awarded by Treace Medical Concepts, Inc 2023 - 2029
- Cesar Netto, Cesar de, Nacime Salomão Barbachan Mansur, Grayson Talaski, Ryan P. Jasper, Eli Schmidt, Kepler Alencar Mendes de Carvalho, Kevin Dibbern, Francois Lintz, Scott J. Ellis, and Donald Dean Anderson. “From Asymptomatic Flatfoot to Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity: Peritalar Subluxation Is the Main Driver of Symptoms.” J Bone Joint Surg Am, August 4, 2025. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.24.01619.
- Zambelli, Roberto, Ana Flavia Santos, Larissa Resende Moreira, Hugo Miguel Ribeiro, Rodrigo Simões, João Murilo Magalhães, Priscila Constantino, Maria Clara Salomão, Cesar de Cesar Netto, and Amanda Oliveira Leopoldino. “Bacterial profile and antimicrobial resistance in diabetic foot ulcer infections: a 10-year retrospective cohort study.” Braz J Infect Dis 29, no. 5 (July 31, 2025): 104570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjid.2025.104570.
- Lintz, François, Wolfram Grün, Enrico Pozzessere, Emily Luo, Erik Jesus Huanuco Casas, Pierre-Henri Vermorel, Antoine Acker, and Cesar de Cesar Netto. “Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fractures Are Associated With Increased Bone Density and Altered Alignment on Weightbearing CT.” Clin Orthop Relat Res, July 10, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1097/CORR.0000000000003613.
- Lintz, F., A. Bernasconi, and C. de Cesar Netto. “Weight-bearing Computed Tomography of the Foot and Ankle.” In Foot and Ankle Biomechanics, 289–99, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815449-6.00012-3.
- De Cesar Netto, C., J. G. Kennedy, W. G. Hamilton, and M. O’Malley. “Foot and Ankle Injuries in Dancers.” In Baxters the Foot and Ankle in Sport, 436-453.e1, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-54942-4.00024-5.
- Furtado Da Fonseca, L., P. A. Pontin, G. D. Magliocca, G. G. Arliani, A. Roney, C. De Cesar Netto, G. F. Bastas, et al. “An International Perspective on the Foot and Ankle in Sports.” In Baxters the Foot and Ankle in Sport, 454–96, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-54942-4.00025-7.
- Post, Andrew A., Tim Fleagle, Cesar de Cesar Netto, Katherine E. Hadlandsmyth, Jason M. Wilken, Kathleen A. Sluka, and Ruth L. Chimenti. “Association Between Localized Achilles Tendon Movement-Evoked Pain and Core Health-Related Domains in Individuals with Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy.” In JOURNAL OF PAIN, 25:50–50, 2024.
- Post, Andrew, Ebonie K. Rio, Kathleen A. Sluka, G Lorimer Moseley, Emine Bayman, Mederic Hall, Cesar de Cesar Netto, et al. “Effectiveness of Telehealth for Achilles Tendinopathy on Pain, Function, and Pain-Related Psychological Outcomes During COVID-19.” In JOURNAL OF PAIN, 23:48–48, 2022.
- Chimenti, Ruth, Andrew Post, Ebonie Rio, Emine Bayman, Mederic Hall, Cesar de Cesar Netto, Jason Wilken, Jessica Danielson, Lorimer Moseley, and Kathleen Sluka. “Integrating pragmatism and rigor - impact of the pandemic on a randomized controlled trial of a complex intervention.” In JOURNAL OF PAIN, 22:586–586, 2021.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
- MedCost
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- UHC Community Plan
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.
External Relationships
- American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS)
- CurveBeam AI
- Exactech
- Foot and Ankle Clinics (Elsevier)
- Journal of Foot and ankle
- Nextremity Solutions/Medartis
- Ossio
- Paragon 28
- Stryker Orthopaedics
- Tayco Brace, Inc.
- Zimmer Biomet Orthopedics
- extremity medical