W. Taylor Harris, MD

Education and Expertise

Dr. Harris received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. His orthopedic residency was spent at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. As an orthopedic sports medicine doctor, he has completed two orthopedic fellowships: one in sports medicine at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, AL, and the other for hip arthroscopy/preservation at the American Hip Institute in Chicago, IL. Combined with his Stryker Mako certifications in total knee and hip arthroplasty, Dr. Harris brings the most innovative treatments and techniques to EmergeOrtho—Blue Ridge Region.

Specialties

Sports Medicine Service: Shoulder

• Rotator cuff repair
• Arthroscopic acromioplasty
• Resection of distal clavicle for arthritis
• Manipulation and arthroscopic release for frozen shoulder
• Stabilization for dislocations
• Arthroscopic labral repair
• Total shoulder replacement
• Reverse total shoulder replacement
• Operative fixation of clavicle fractures
• Operative fixation of proximal humeral fractures

Sports Medicine Service: Hip

• Hip arthroscopy
• Labral tear repair
• Hip impingement repair

Injuries and Conditions Treated

• Labral tear of the hip
• Cartilage injury
• Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement (FAI))
• Avascular necrosis (AVN)
• Elbow Fractures
• Knee and Hip Fractures
• Femoral and acetabular version disorders
• Osteochondroma
• Osteoid osteoma
• Synovial Chondromatosis
• Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS)
• Walking (gait) abnormalities
• Bursitis
• MPFL, MCL, LCL, PCL, and ACL Injuries
• Patellar Instability
• Arthritis of the Hip or Knee
• Knee Swelling and Pain
• Meniscus and Labral Tears
• Broken Kneecap

Hip and Knee Surgical Treatments

• Knee Arthroscopy
• MPFL (Medial Patellofemoral Ligament) Reconstruction
• Joint Replacement and partial or full Knee Replacement
• Robotically Assisted Knee and Hip Replacement
• Torn Meniscus Surgery
• Hip Replacement Options through a posterior or anterior approach
• Hip Preservation Surgery, including Hip Arthroscopy and Labral Tear Repair
• Periacetabular Osteotomy
• Proximal Femoral Osteotomy
• Surgical Hip Dislocation
• Core Decompression Surgery for the Hip
• Operative Fixation for Hip Fractures
• Hip Osteotomies
• Hip Arthrodesis (Fusions)
• MAKOplasty Partial Knee Resurfacing
• Knee Osteotomies
• Operative Fixation for Knee Fractures

Education

• Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC
• Orthopedic Residency: University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga, TN
• Orthopedic Fellowship: American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, AL
• Orthopedic Fellowship: American Hip Institute, Chicago, IL

Honors and Awards

• ASMI Fellow Research Award–Basic Science
  
• Orthopaedic In-Training Academic Achievement Award–University of Tennessee College of Medicine
• Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society–University of South Carolina School of Medicine
• Fullerton Scholar–University of South Carolina School of Medicine
• Phi Beta Kappa–Clemson University
• Department of Biological Sciences Faculty GPA Award–Clemson University

Publications and Presentations

Doty, Jesse, and Wallace Harris. “Hallux Valgus Deformity and Treatment.” Foot and Ankle Clinics, vol. 23, no. 2, 2018, pp. 271-280., doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2018.01.007.

Bailey, L. B., Thigpen, C. A., Hawkins, R. J., Beattie, P. F., & Shanley, E. (2017). Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Stretching for Baseball Players With Shoulder Range of Motion Deficits. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, 9(3), 230-237. doi:10.1177/1941738117702835

ASMI Fellowship Lectures

Andrews Sports Medicine Institute—Birmingham, AL:

Topics:

• Cervical Spine Injuries, Meniscal Repair: When to take and when to keep?
• Shoulder/Elbow Arthroplasty

Grand Rounds Presentations

University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga, TN:

• Tarsal Navicular Stress Fractures
• Chronic Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Community and Coverage

• ASMI 39th Annual Injuries in Baseball Course, Faculty Member, Birmingham, AL
• Samford University Team Physician
• Wrestlemania (WWE) Team Physician, Tampa, FL
• Alabama Ballet Dance Company Team Physician, Birmingham, AL
• Hustle Up 7 v 7 Football Tournament Team Physician, Hoover, AL
• Birmingham Barons Team Physician, Birmingham, AL
• Mountain Brook High School Team Physician
• USA Boxing Ringside Physician, Chattanooga, TN
• Erlanger Sports Medicine Team Physician; Hixson High School-Hixson, TN
• Clemson University Weightlifting Club President, Clemson, SC
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor, Greenville, SC
• Ironman Medical Staff, Chattanooga, TN
• PSBC Middle School Basketball Head Coach, Greenville, SC

Are you suffering from a sports injury or hip problem? Don’t wait. Schedule your appointment with orthopedic sports medicine specialist Dr. Harris at EmergeOrtho—Blue Ridge Region now.