J. Mack Aldridge III, MD, FAOA

Education and Expertise

Dr. Aldridge obtained his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He is a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He then completed his orthopedic surgery training at Duke University Medical Center. Following this, Dr. Aldridge completed an additional year of subspecialty fellowship training in hand, upper extremity, and microsurgery at Duke University Medical Center. He served as an assistant professor on the Duke Orthopedic staff for four years, during which time he served as chief of orthopedics at the Durham VA Medical Center (DVAMC), devoting countless hours to research while teaching fellows, residents, and medical students.

Dr. Aldridge is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and has received his certificate of added qualification (CAQ) in Hand Surgery. He served as past president of the North Carolina Orthopedic Association, the Duke Hand Society, and the North Carolina Society for Surgery of the Hand. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Southern Orthopedic Association, the Piedmont Orthopedic Society, the Bassett Orthopedic Society, the Southeastern Hand Society, the Shoulder and Elbow Society, and the prestigious American Orthopedic Association.

As a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the Hand and Wrist and Elbow and Arm, Dr. Aldridge addresses a variety of orthopedic conditions and injuries, which include:

• Upper extremity trauma/fractures
• Elbow disorders
• Elbow pain
• Tennis elbow
• Wrist arthritis
• Elbow arthritis
• Brachial plexus injury
• Dupuytren’s disease (contracture)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Nerve injuries
• Biceps tendinitis/tear
• Tendinitis
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

Dr. Aldridge utilizes sophisticated, minimally-invasive, patient-centered approaches to treat the conditions listed above. Examples of treatment methods and services provided by Dr. Aldridge include:

• Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty
• Microsurgery
• Nerve injuries/repair
• Tendon repair/transfers
• Brachial plexus reconstruction
• Endoscopic carpal tunnel release

Community Connections

In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Aldridge remains committed to teaching. He was the youngest recipient of the Faculty Teaching Award while on staff at Duke University and has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and select chapters in five textbooks. And, he has given over 80 lectures throughout North America, South American, Greece, Australia, Europe, and Japan on topics ranging from avascular necrosis of the hip to upper extremity anatomy and surgery of the hand. Dr. Aldridge resides in Durham with his wife and two daughters.

Education

• Medical school: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
• Residency: Duke University Medical Center
• Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center: Hand/Upper Extremity/Microsurgery Fellowship

Honors

• North Carolina Top Doctor (2019, 2020)
• Patients’ Choice Award (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
• Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
• Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
• Top 10 Doctor – Metro Area (2014)
• Top 10 Doctor – City (2014)
• On-Time Doctor Award (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
• Compassionate Doctor Award – 5 Year Honoree (2017, 2018, 2020)

Associations

• American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (WFU School of Medicine)
• Fellowship Director – EmergeOrtho, PA
• North Carolina Orthopedic Association – Past President
• North Carolina Society for Surgery of the Hand – Past President
• Duke Hand Club – Past President
• Piedmont Orthopedic Society – Research Grant Review Committee
• Bassett Orthopedic Society
• Southeastern Hand Society – Member at Large
• Southern Orthopedic Association
• North Carolina Specialty Hospital – Medical Executive Committee, Board Member
• EmergeOrtho– Medical Executive Committee
• Arthritis Foundation North Carolina (Local Advisory Board Member)
• Piedmont Orthopedic Foundation – Vice President

Publications

2021 Textbook:

Skeletal Trauma of the Upper Extremity
Technique Spotlight: Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis in Humeral Shaft Fractures
Daniel E. Hess and Julian McClees Aldridge III

2020 Articles:

Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger.

Aldridge JM 3rd, Katt B, Rizzo M, Beredjiklian P, Urbaniak JR.

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020 Apr 9:S1058-2746(20)30146-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2020.01.081. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 32279987

Open Reduction Internal Fixation With Transverse Volar Plating for Unstable Proximal Interphalangeal Fracture-Dislocation: The Seatbelt Procedure.

Federer AE, Guerrero EM, Dekker TJ, Mithani SK, Aldridge JM 3rd, Ruch DS, Richard MJ.

Hand (N Y). 2020 Mar;15(2):201-207. doi: 10.1177/1558944718790063. Epub 2018 Jul 28.

PMID: 30056754

2018 Published Articles:

Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of radiographic classification of acromioclavicular joint dislocations.

Ringenberg JD, Foughty Z, Hall AD, Aldridge JM 3rd, Wilson JB, Kuremsky MA.

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018 Mar;27(3):538-544. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2017.09.021. Epub 2017 Nov 22.

2017 Published Articles:

Percutaneous Treatment of Unstable Scaphoid Waist Fractures.

Matson AP, Garcia RM, Richard MJ, Leversedge FJ, Aldridge JM, Ruch DS.

Hand (N Y). 2017 Jul;12(4):362-368. doi: 10.1177/1558944716681948. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

Perioperative Glucocorticoid Administration Improves Elbow Motion in Terrible Triad Injuries.

Desai MJ, Matson AP, Ruch DS, Leversedge FJ, Aldridge JM 3rd, Richard MJ.

J Hand Surg Am. 2017 Jan;42(1):41-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.11.011.

PMID: 28052827

2014 Articles:

Scaphoid nonunions treated with 2 headless compression screws and bone grafting.

Garcia RM, Leversedge FJ, Aldridge JM, Richard MJ, Ruch DS.

J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Jul;39(7):1301-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.02.030. Epub 2014 May 1.

PMID: 24793227

To see a complete list of Dr. Aldridge’s publications, click here.

Request a consultation with Dr. Aldridge now. Or, call us at 984.666.2201 any time to speak with an EmergeOrtho—Triangle Region team member.