Board-Certified Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon in Birmingham, Alabama
Kathleen E. McKeon, MD, is one of Alabama’s most recognized and respected orthopaedic hand and wrist surgeons.
Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Dr. McKeon specializes in treating sports-related injuries and complex conditions affecting the hand, wrist and upper extremity.
Known for her exceptional surgical expertise and compassionate, patient-centered approach, Dr. McKeon helps athletes, active adults and patients of all ages regain function, overcome pain and return to the activities that matter most to them.
Her expertise includes fracture care, nerve and tendon surgery, joint reconstruction and microsurgery, as well as the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, arthritis and other common hand and wrist conditions.
Advanced Training in Hand & Wrist & Surgery
In addition to being board-certified in orthopaedic surgery, Dr. McKeon holds the Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand.
This advanced certification recognizes orthopaedic surgeons who have completed specialized training and demonstrated extensive expertise in treating conditions affecting the hand and wrist.
Dr. McKeon combines this specialized training with a patient-centered approach. She takes time to understand each patient’s symptoms, functional limitations and recovery goals before developing a personalized treatment plan.
When appropriate, she begins with conservative treatment options. If surgery is needed, she uses the procedure best suited to the patient’s condition and lifestyle.
Hand & Wrist Conditions Dr. McKeon Treats
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Trigger Finger
- Hand, Wrist & Finger Arthritis
- Finger, Hand & Wrist Fractures
- Sports-Related Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Tendon & Ligament Injuries
- Nerve Injuries & Nerve Lacerations
- Soft-Tissue Injuries
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Ganglion Cysts
- Nail-Bed Injuries
- Joint Injuries & Instability
- Conditions requiring Microsurgery or Joint Reconstruction
Whether a condition develops gradually or results from an acute injury, Dr. McKeon’s goal is to identify the source of the problem and provide the most appropriate path toward meaningful, lasting recovery.
Read More About Dr. McKeonMEDICAL TRAINING
Fellowship:
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
Hand Surgery Fellow in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Graduated - July, 2014
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency:
Washington University in Saint Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital (Saint Louis, MO)
Resident in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Graduated - June, 2013
EDUCATION
Medical Degree:
Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine (Saint Louis, MO)
Graduated - May, 2008 (MD)
Undergraduate:
Yale University (New Haven, CT)
Graduated - May 2004 (BA, History of Medicine; cum laude, with honors)
PROFESSIONAL
- SEC Orthopaedic Team of the Year (2020 - University of Alabama Athletics)
- Selected for ASSH Young Leaders program (2020)
- "Top Doctor - Hand Surgeon" selected by local physician peers for B-Metro: The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living (2015-2021)
- "Top Doctor - Hand Surgeon-Pediatrics" selected by local physician peers for B-Metro: The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living (2015-2021)
- “Top Women in Medicine”, awarded by B-Metro: The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living (2017-2021)
- “Rising Star in Health Care”, awarded by the Birmingham Business Journal (2016)
- Resident Research Award (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, 2013)
- ASSH/AFSH 2012 Annual Meeting Scholarship winner to attend the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and 30th Adrian E. Flatt Residents and Fellows Conference
- Leonard Goldner Award Finalist for best basic science paper, AOFAS annual meeting 2011, for “Vascular supply to the ankle syndesmosis.”
- Leonard Goldner Award Finalist for best basic science paper, AOFAS annual meeting 2011, for “The intraosseous and extraosseous arterial anatomy of the adult navicular.”
- Alpha Omega Alpha (Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, 2008)
- Glasgow-Rubin Citation for Academic Achievement (Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, 2008)
- Four-year varsity letterman; springboard and platform diving (Yale University, 2000-2004)
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified
- Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Surgery of the Hand (formerly CAQ Hand)
McKeon KE. Acute/Traumatic Elbow Injuries. Orthopedic Knowledge Update: Sports Medicine 6. Jan 2021.
McKeon KE, Lee DH. Shoulder and Elbow Tendinopathy. Orthopedic Knowledge Update 12. 2017.
Manske MC, McKeon KE, McCormick JJ, Johnson JE, Klein SE. Arterial Anatomy of the Posterior Tibial Nerve in the Tarsal Tunnel. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016;98(6):499-504.
Prather H, Hunt D, McKeon K, Simpson S, Meyer EB, Yemm T, Brophy R. Are Elite Female Soccer Athletes at Risk for Disordered Eating Attitudes, Menstrual Dysfunction, and Stress Fractures? PM&R. 2016;8(3):208-213.
McKeon KE, Lee DH. Post-traumatic boutonnière and swan-neck deformities. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2015;23(10):623-32.
McKeon KE, Wright BT, Lee DH. Accuracy of MRI-based Diagnoses for Distal Upper Extremity Soft Tissue Masses. J Hand Microsurg. 2015;7(1):61-66.
Manske MC, McKeon KE, Johnson JE, McCormick JJ, Klein SE. Arterial anatomy of the tibialis posterior tendon. Foot Ankle Int. 2015;36(4):436-43.
Kraus JC, McKeon KE, Johnson JE, McCormick JJ, Klein SE. Intraosseous and extraosseous blood supply to the medial cuneiform: Implications for dorsal opening wedge plantarflexion osteotomy. Foot Ankle Int. 2014;35(4):394-400.
McKeon KE, London DA, Osei DA, Gelberman RH, Goldfarb CA, Boyer MI, Calfee RP. Ligamentous hyperlaxity and dorsal wrist ganglions. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2013;38(11):2138-43.
McKeon KE, Gelberman RH, Calfee RP. Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries of the Thumb: An assessment of metacarpophalangeal joint angulation and phalangeal translation on valgus stress examination in human cadavera. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(10):881-7.
McKeon KE, Boyer MI. Approach to Orthopedic Consultation. In The Washington Manual: Internship Survival Guide, 4th edition. Ed. T Defer, GN LaRossa, E Knoche, H Sateia (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013).
McKeon KE, Johnson JE, McCormick JJ, Klein SE. The intraosseous and extraosseous vascular supply of the fifth metatarsal: Implications for fifth metatarsal osteotomy. Foot Ankle Int. 2013;34(1):117-123.
McKeon KE, McCormick JJ, Johnson JE, Klein SE. The intraosseous and extraosseous arterial anatomy of the adult navicular. Foot Ankle Int. 2012;33(10):857-61.
McKeon KE, Wright RW, Johnson JE, McCormick JJ, Klein SE. Vascular anatomy of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94(10):931-938.
McKeon KE, Talerico MT, Calfee RP. Stress Fracture of the Radius Diaphysis in a Skeletally Immature Wrestler. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2012;37(5):995-998.
McKeon KE, O’Donnell JC, Bashyal R, Hou CC, Luhmann SJ, Dobbs MB, Gordon JE. Immobilization after pinning of supracondylar distal humerus fractures in children: Use of the A-frame cast. J Pediatr Orthop. 2012;32(1):e1-5.
McKeon KE, Gardner MJ. Orthopedic Injuries. In The Washington Manual of Surgery, 6th edition. Ed. ME Klingensmith, A Aziz, A Bharat, AC Fox, MR Porembka (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011).
McKeon KE, O’Donnell JC, Gordon JE. Pediatric femoral shaft fractures: current and future treatment. Int J Clin Rheumatol. 2010;5(6):687-697.
Lutsky K, McKeon K, Goldfarb C, Boyer M. Dorsal fixation of intra-articular distal radius fractures using 2.4-mm locking plates. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2009; 13(4):187-96.
Goldfarb CA, Gelberman RH, McKeon K, Chia B, Boyer MI. Extra articular steroid injection: Early patient response and the incidence of flare reaction. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2007;32(10):1513-20.
McKeon K, Boyer MI, Goldfarb CA. Use of routine histologic evaluation of carpal ganglions. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2006;31:284-288.
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- Domestic Outreach Committee
- Business of Hand Surgery Committee
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Yale Alumni Schools Committee
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Media Center
In this edition of PA Spotlight, we introduce you to Kara Smola, PA-C. Kara shares about her role working alongside Dr. Kathleen McKeon, growing up in Alabama and attending Auburn University, and what she enjoys doing outside of work with her family.
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StyleBlueprint.com featured Dr. Kathleen E. McKeon in their FACE of Birmingham series in September, 2021.
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