Samuel E. Ford, MD

• Wake Forest University - B.S. in Biology with Honors
• University of Alabama School of Medicine - Doctor of Medicine
  
• Atrium Musculoskeletal Institute & OrthoCarolina - Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
  
• Baylor Scott & White Orthopaedic Associates of Dallas - Foot & Ankle Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship
  

Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle 

• Total Ankle Replacement and Arthroplasty
• Total Talus Replacement
• Ankle, Hindfoot, and Midfoot Fusions
• Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)

Arch Deformity 

• Flatfeet (Planovalgus)
• High-Arched Feet (Cavovarus, Charcot-Marie Tooth)

Adolescent Foot & Ankle Conditions

• Tarsal Coalitions
• Residual/Long-Term Clubfoot Manifestations

Trauma & Fracture Management  

• Tibia, Fibula, Ankle, and Pilon fractures
• Calcaneus fractures
• Talus fractures
• Navicular fractures
• Lisfranc and Metatarsal fractures
• Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Limb Salvage

• Deformity Evaluation, Management, and Correction
• Limb Lengthening
• Custom Components and Segmental Bone Defects
• Ilizarov Static and Spatial Frames
• Charcot Reconstruction

Forefoot Reconstruction

• Bunion Correction
• Minimally Invasive Bunion Correction
• Hammertoe Correction
• Great Toe Arthritis (Hallux Rigidus)

Sports and Cartilage Injuries

• Athletic Injuries and Rehabilitation
• Arthroscopic Surgery
• Osteochondral (OCD) Injuries
• Ankle Instability
• Achilles Tendonitis, Tears, and Reconstruction
• Ligament and Tendon Injuries and Reconstruction
• Stress Fractures

Paralytic Conditions, Lower Extremity Weakness, and Foot Drop

• Bracing
• Tendon Transfers
• Ankle and Hindfoot Fusion

• Dr. Ford is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of the Foot and Ankle

• 2012 - University of Alabama School of Medicine Frank Fitts, Jr. academic merit scholarship
• 2013 - Richard Devore Carter, M.D. academic merit scholarship
• 2013 - Gold Humanism Honory Society Member
• 2013 - Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Member
• 2014 - William R. Shamblin, M.D. Surgery Award (single recipient)
• 2014 - University of Alabama School of Medicine Medial Alumni Association Leadership & Community Service Award (single recipient)
• 2014 - University of Alabama School of Medicine Outstanding Patient Communication Award (single recipient)
• 2016 - International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium Resident Scholarship
• 2017 - American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Resident Scholarship
• 2017 - American Society for Surgery of the Hand 72nd Annual Meeting Best Video Award for “Huber Transfer for Opposition in Thumb Hypoplasia”
• 2025 - Excellence in Medical Student Teaching Faculty Award, Orthopedics, Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine

Recent Publications

• Pickleball Achilles Tendon Ruptures: A New Change in Achilles Repair Demographics. Foot Ank Ort. 2026. In Press.
• Campbell M, Chandler C, Burger J, Hodgens B, Teachey W, Hietpas K, Anderson RB, Cohen B, Jones CP, *Ford SE. Long-Term Survivorship of Inbone II Total Ankle Arthroplasty. Foot Ank Int. 2026; DOI: 10.1177/10711007251412377. PMID: 41677768.
• Averkamp B, Rees A, Kalbac T, Rennard J, Lendrum J, Murawski C, Hietpas K, Irwin TA, Jones CP, Ellington JK, Shawen S, *Ford SE. Comparison of Postoperative Complications by Surgical Technique after Acute Midsubstance Achilles Repair. Am J Sports Med. 2025;53(12): DOI: 10.1177/03635465251365520. PMID: 40901709.
• Ray JJ, Haynes WB, Graham GD, Ford SE, Irwin TA, Jones CP, Cohen BE, Davis WH. Haynes Implant Survivorship and Radiographic Outcomes of Revision Total Ankle Arthroplasty Using a Modular Revision System. Foot Ank Int. 2025;46(10):1115-22. DOI: 10.1177/10711007251352529. PMID: 40721357.
• Denduluri SK, Ford SE, Odum S, Geary MB, Gaston RG, Loeffler BJ. Evaluating the diagnostic utility of the flexion-compression test for carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Microsurg. 2025;17(1):1-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jham.2024.100172. PMID: 39876956.
• Dombrowsky AR, Strickland CD, Walsh DF, Hietpas K, Conti MS, Irwin TA, Cohen BE, Ellington JK, Jones CP, Shawen SB, *Ford SE. Nitinol Staple Use in Primary Arthrodesis of Lisfranc Fracture-Dislocations. Foot Ank Int. 2024;45(7):690-7. DOI: 10.1177/10711007241227880. PMID: 38850062.
• Braswell MJ, Hysong AA, Macknet DM, Jones CP, Ford SE, Ellington JK. Outcomes after Hallux Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis. Foot Ank Int. 2023;44(12):1213-1218. DOI: 10.1177/10711007231200021. PMID: 37772914.
• Conti MS, Irwin TA, Ford SE, Jones CP, Anderson RB, Davis WH. Complications, Reoperations, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following a Two-Stage Revision Total Ankle Arthroplasty for Chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infections. Foot Ank Int. 2022;43(12):1614-21. DOI: 10.1177/10711007221133398. PMID: 36367126.
• Macknet DM, Ford SE, Mak RA, Loeffler BL, Connor PM, Gaston RG. Complications after traumatic distal triceps tears: an analysis of 107 cases. JSES Rev Rep Tech. 2022(2):520-5 DOI: 10.1016/j.xrrt.2022.05.004. 37588465
• Barcel DA, Odum S, Rowe T, Sabatini JB, Ford SE, Davis WH, Irwin TA. Mortality and Conversion Rates to Below-Knee or Above-Knee Amputation after Transmetatarsal Amputation. J Am Acad Ortho Surg. 2022;30(16):767-79. DOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-00872. PMID: 35442927.
• Rao AJ, Scarola GT, Rowe TM, Yeatts NC, Macknet DM, Ford SE, Gaston RG, Saltzman BM, Hamid N, Connor PM. Distal Biceps Repair in Female: a Large Single Center Case Series. HSS J. 2022;18(2):264-70. DOI: 10.1177/15563316211009855. PMID: 35645642.
• Scott DJ, Kane J, Ford S, Daoud Y, Brodsky JW. Correlation of Patient-Reported Outcomes with Physical Function after Total Ankle Arthroplasty. Foot Ank Int. 2021;42(5):646-653. DOI: 10.1177/1071100720978428. PMID: 33451259.
• Brodsky JW, Scott DJ, Ford S, Coleman S, Daoud Y. Functional Outcomes of Total Ankle Arthroplasty at a Mean Follow-up of 7.6 Years: a Prospective, 3-Dimensional Gait Analysis. J Bone J Surg Am. 2021;103(6):477-82. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.20.00659. PMID: 33464768.
• Taniguchi A, Alejandro SF, Kane JM, Daoud Y, Tanaka Y, Ford SE, Brodsky JW. Association of Cavovarus Foot Alignment with Peroneal Tendon Tears. Foot Ank Int. 2021;42(6):750-6. DOI: 10.1177/1071100721990348. PMID: 33847151.
• *Ford SE, Cohen BE, Davis WH, Jones CP. Midfoot Charcot Reconstruction with Intramedullary Beaming: Clinical Outcomes and Complications. Foot Ank Int. 2019;40(1):18- 23. DOI: 10.1177/1071100718799966. PMID: 30284492.
• *Ford SE, Kwon JY, Ellington JK. Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis Utilizing a Titanium Intramedullary Nail with an Internal Pseudoelastic Nitinol Compression Element: A Retrospective Case Series of 33 Patients. J Foot Ank Surg. 2019;58(2):266-272. DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2018.08.046. PMID: 30612872.

Video Publications

• 2018  Ford SE, Cohen BE, Davis WH, Jones CP. Midfoot Charcot Reconstruction with Intramedullary Beaming: Surgical Technique. Foot Ank Int. 2018. In Press.
• 2017  Ford SE, JK Ellington. Ankle Block vs. Single-Shot Popliteal Fossa Block as Primary Anesthesia for Forefoot Operative Procedures: Prospective, Randomized Comparison. Online Journal Club Best of FAI 2017 – AOFAS Webinar – Charlotte, NC
• 2017 Ford SE, Cook S, Chadderdon RC, Gaston RG. Huber Transfer for Opposition in Thumb Hypoplasia. Video Theater – 2017 ASSH Annual Meeting – San Francisco, CA

Podium Presentations

1. 2018 Schipper ON, Ford SE, Moody PM. Radiographic Results of Nitinol Compression Staples for Hindfoot and Midfoot Arthrodeses. OREF/ORS Southeast Region Resident Research Symposium – Atlanta, GA
2. 2017-8  Ford SE, Andersen JS, Macknet DM, Connor PM, Loeffler BJ, Gaston RG. Major Complications after Distal Biceps Tendon Repairs: a Retrospective Cohort Analysis of 970 Cases.
   • Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Research Day – Charlotte, NC
   • 2. OrthoCarolina Oscar Miller Day – Charlotte, NC
   • 3. American Association for Hand Surgery 2018 Annual Meeting – Phoenix, AZ

1. 2017-8  Ford SE, Cohen BE, Davis WH, Jones CP. Midfoot Charcot Reconstruction with Intramedullary Beaming: Clinical Outcomes and Complications.
   • Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Research Day – Charlotte, NC
   • 2. AOFAS Specialty Day at the 2018 AAOS Annual Meeting – New Orleans, LA

• 2013 Ford SE, Brandwein-Gensler M, Carroll WR, Rosenthal EL, Magnuson JS. Transoral Robotic Surgery vs. Open Surgical Approaches to Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Human Papillomavirus Status. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Annual Meeting – Vancouver, BC, Canada
• 2013 Patel SA, Magnuson JS, Holsinger FC, […], Ford SE, et al. Robotic Surgery for Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Site. American Head & Neck Society International Conf. – Orlando, FL
• 2012 White HN, Ford SE, Bush B, et al. Salvage Surgery for Recurrent Cancers of the Oropharynx: Comparing TORS with Standard Open Surgical Approaches. American Head & Neck Society International Conf. – Toronto, ON, Canada

Poster Presentations

• 2018 Ford SE, Andersen JS, Macknet DM, Connor PM, Loeffler BJ, Gaston RG. Major Complications after Distal Biceps Tendon Repairs: a Retrospective Cohort Analysis of 970 Cases.
  • 1. AAOS Annual Meeting 2018, Shoulder & Elbow Sessions – New Orleans, LA
  • 2. American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting 2018 – Boston, MA

• 2017-8  Ford SE, Ellington JK. Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis Utilizing a Titanium Intramedullary Nail with an Internal Pseudoelastic Nitinol Compression Element.
  • 1. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting 2017 – Seattle, WA
  • 2. AAOS Annual Meeting 2018, Foot & Ankle Sessions – New Orleans, LA

• 2017 Jones CP, Ford SE, Cohen BE, Davis WH. Midfoot Charcot Reconstruction with Intramedullary Beaming: Clinical Outcomes and Complications. AOFAS Annual Meeting – Seattle, WA
• 2012 White HN, Ford SE, Bush B, et al. Salvage Surgery for Recurrent Cancers of the Oropharynx: Comparing TORS with Standard Open Surgical Approaches. UASOM Medical Student Research Day – Birmingham, AL

Grand Rounds Presentations

• 2018 Total Ankle Arthroplasty in the Modern Era, Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds – Charlotte, NC
• 2017 Deltoid Ligament Injury: When and How Should we Intervene?, Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds – Charlotte, NC
• 2017 Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis: Update in Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds – Charlotte, NC
• 2016 Advances in the Management of Scaphoid Nonunions, Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds – Charlotte, NC
• 2016 Orthopaedic Manifestations of Sickle Cell Hemoglobinopathies, Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds – Charlotte, NC
• 2015 Radial Head and Neck Fractures, Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds – Charlotte, NC

Dr. Ford is a fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon with a strong background in clinical research, peer-reviewed publications, and national presentations. His research has focused on foot and ankle reconstruction, Charcot deformity, hindfoot and midfoot fusion, ankle surgery, and complex orthopedic conditions, including studies evaluating surgical techniques, clinical outcomes, and emerging technologies such as nitinol fixation. His academic work also includes podium and poster presentations at national orthopedic meetings, including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Download Dr. Ford's Curriculum Vitae