Thomas R. Kiefhaber, M.D. is a board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. After finishing his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Cincinnati, he completed a hand, upper extremity, and microvascular fellowship at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Institute, one of the most prestigious hand centers in the country.

Dr. Kiefhaber specializes in many innovative treatments including minimally invasive carpal tunnel release, wrist arthroscopy, bone and soft tissue restoration, and microsurgical repair of nerve and blood vessel disorders.

Dr. Kiefhaber has extensive experience reconstructing hands damaged by trauma or arthritis.  He has been able to restore excellent hand function to a wide range of patients including professional and amateur athletes, doctors, musicians, and workers of all types who count on him to keep their hands functioning at peak performance. His ultimate objective is to guide patients to an improved quality of life, whether repairing an acute injury or managing a chronic condition.

Dr. Kiefhaber advances hand surgery education by training hand surgery fellows, lecturing nationally and internationally, writing book chapters, and completing and publishing a multitude of research studies. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand where he has served in many leadership roles.  He also serves as an examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Dr. Kiefhaber lives in Hyde Park with his wife, Jan.  He has two adult children and a pack of wonderful grandkids.  When he’s not working, he spends his fun time flying a small airplane and learning to play bridge.

“In my opinion, the best part of my practice is getting to know my patients, teaching them about their medical crisis, and then working with them to design a treatment program that meets their needs.”

Berling SE, Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: Hardware-related complications following radiocarpal arthrodesis using a dorsal plate: J Wrist Surg. 2015 Feb; 56-60.
Peelman, J., Markiewitz, A., Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: Splintage in the treatment of sagittal band incompetence and extensor tendon subluxation. J Hand Surg Eur. 2014 April.
Wall, L.B., DiDonna, M.L., Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: Proximal Row Carpectomy: Minimum 20-Year-Follow-Up. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2013 ;38A:1498-1504.
King, B.A., Stern, P.J., Kiefhaber, T.R.: The Incidence of Trigger Finger or de Quervain’s Tendinitis after Carpal Tunnel Release. J Hand Surg. Eur. 2012 July:1-2.
Faruqui, S., Stern, P.J., Kiefhaber, T.R.: Percutaneous Pinning of Fractures in the Proximal Third of the Proximal Phalanx: Complications and Outcomes. J Hand Surg. Am. 2012 July:1342-1348.
Elfar, J.C., Yaseen, Z, Stern, P.J. Kiefhaber, T.R.: Individual Finger Sensibility in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 2010 November; 35A: 1807-1812.
Kiefhaber TR.: “Management of scapholunate advanced collapse pattern of
degenerative arthritis of the wrist”. J Hand Surg Am. 2009 Oct;34(8):1527-30.
Calfee, R.P., Kiefhaber, T.R., Sommerkamp, T.G., Stern, P.J.: “Hemi-Hamate Arthroplasty Provides Functional Reconstruction of Acute and Chronic Proximal Interphalangeal Fracture-Disclosures.” Journal of Hand Surgery (Am). Vol. 34A: 1232-41. September 2009
Hamilton, S.C., Stern, P.J., Fassler, P.R., Kiefhaber, T.R.: “Mini-screw fixation for the treatment of proximal interphalangeal joint dorsal fracture-dislocations.” Journal of Hand Surgery (Am). October 31, 2006 (8): 1349-54.
Stern, P.J., Agabegi, S.S., Kiefhaber, T.R., Didonna, M.L.: “Proximal Row Carpectomy” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol. 87A:166-174, September 2005.
George, M.S., Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: “The sauve-kapandji procedure and the Darrach procedure for distal radio-ulnar joint dysfunction after colles’ fracture.” Journal of Hand Surgery (Br);29(6):608-13. Dec. 2004.


DiDonna, M.L., Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: “Proximal Row Carpectomy Study with a Minimum of Ten Years of Follow-up” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 86-A, Number 11: 2359-2365, November 2004.
Goldfarb, CA, Stern, PJ, and Kiefhaber, TR: “Palmar Midcarpal Instability: The Results of Treatment with 4-Corner Arthrodesis” Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol. 29A, No. 2 March, 2004.
Kozin, S.H, Kiefhaber, T.R.: “Hand and Arm Differences” Fanconi Anemia Standards for Clinical Care, Second Edition, 2003, Chapter 4, pp. 53-72, 2003.
Williams, Rafael M.M., Kiefhaber, T.R., Sommerkamp, T.Greg, Stern, P.J.: “Treatment of Unstable Dorsal Proximal Interphalangeal Fracture/Dislocations Using a Hemi-Hamate Autograft” Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 28A, 5:856-865, September 2003.
Goldfarb, C.A., Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J., Bielecki, D.K: “The relationship
between basal joint arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome” Journal of Hand Surgery,
Vol 28A, 1:21-27, January 2003.
Williams, R.M., Hastings, H. 2nd, Kiefhaber, T.R.: “ PIP Fracture/Dislocation Treatment Technique: Use of a Hemi-Hamate Resurfacing Anthroplasty” Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, 6(4): 185-92, December 2002.
Hartigan, BJ, Stern, PJ, Kiefhaber, T.R.: “Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: Arthrodesis Compared with Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition” J Bone Joint Surg 2001 83: 1470-1478.
Deitch, M.A., Kiefhaber, T.R., Comisar, B.R, Stern, P.J: “Dorsal Fracture Dislocations of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint: Surgical Complications and
Long-Term Results” Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 24A, 5:914-923, September 1999.
Schmidt, C.C., Kohut, G.N., Greenberg, J.A., Kann, S.E., Idler, R.S., Kiefhaber, T.R.: “The anconeus muscle flap: its anatomy and clinical application” Journal of
Hand Surgery, Vol 24A:2:359-369, 1999.


Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: “Clinical Perspective – Fracture Dislocations of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint” Hand Prints, Vol 16, No. 2, 3-15, April 1999.
Fulcher, S.M., Kiefhaber,T.R., Stern, P.J.: “Upper-Extremity Tendinitis and
Overuse Syndromes in the Athlete” Clinic in Sports Medicine, Vol 17, No. 3,
433-448, July 1998.
Wyrick, J.D., Youse, B.D., Kiefhaber, T.R.: "Scapholunate Ligament Repair and Capsulodesis for the treatment of Static Scapholunate Dissociation" The Journal
of Hand Surgery, Vol 23B, 6:776-780, December 1998.
Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: "Fracture Dislocations of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint", The Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol. 23A, No. 3, 368-380, May, 1998.
Wolfe, S.W., Mih, A.D., Hotchkiss, R.N., Culp, R.W., Kiefhaber, T.R., Nagle, D.J.: “Wide excision of the Distal Ulna: A Multicenter Case Study” The Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 23A, 2:222-228, March 1998.
Kiefhaber, T.R.: “Closed Tendon Injuries in the Hand” in Operative Techniques in
Sports Medicine, WB Saunders, Vol 4, No. 4, 1996 pp. 227.
Wyrick, J.D., Stern, P.J., and Kiefhaber, T.R.: “Motion Preserving Procedures in
the Treatment of SLAC Wrist: Proximal Row Carpectomy Versus Four-Corner Fusion”The Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 20A 6:965-970, November, 1995.
Kiefhaber, T.R., Strickland, J.W.: "The Soft Tissue Reconstruction for Rheumatoid Swan-Neck and Boutonniere Deformities: Long-Term Results" Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 18A 6:984-989, January, 1994.
Fassler, P.R., Stern, P.J., Kiefhaber, T.R.: "Asymptomatic SLAC Wrist: Does It
Exist?" Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 18A 4: 682-686, July, 1993.
Bamberger, H.B., Stern, P.J., Kiefhaber, T.R., McDonough, J.J., Cantor, R.M.: "Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthrodesis: A Functional Evaluation". Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 17 4: 605-611, July, 1992.
Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J.: "Upper Extremity Tendinitis and Overuse Syndromes in the Athlete". Clinics in Sports Medicine, Vol 11, pp 39-55,
January 1992.


Stern, P.J., Roman, R.J., Kiefhaber, T.R. & McDonough, J.M.: Pilon Fractures of
the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint". Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol. 16A, pp. 844-850, 1991.
Kiefhaber, T.R., Stern, P.J., Grood, E.S.: “The Lateral Stability of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint” Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 11 A, No. 5, pp. 661‑669, September, 1986. Sponsored by a Grant from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.
Crawford, A.H., Kiefhaber, T.R., Crawford, A.H., Jr.: “Intraoperative Restraint
for Luque Wires” Spine 9:96‑97, 1984.