About me
Dr. Kenneth Means, Jr. is an orthopaedic hand surgeon who sees patients in Baltimore and Ellicott City. He is the Vice Chief and Clinical Research Consultant at the Curtis National Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Means is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, and holds the Certificate of Added Qualification for Surgery of the Hand from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is the hand/upper extremity consultant for multiple sports teams including the Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, Towson University, Morgan State University, Stevenson University, and many other local and regional schools.
Dr. Means specializes in hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow conditions, including fractures, dislocations, and nerve/tendon/ligament/blood vessel injuries; upper extremity nerve compression, including carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes; Dupuytren's contracture; trigger finger; and arthritis and other issues affecting these areas. Dr. Means uses both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for patients.
At the Curtis National Hand Center, Dr. Means is involved in academic activities including research, grants acquisition, lecturing, book and journal publication, and education of fellows and residents from MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Johns Hopkins University Hospital, and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He has received Golden Apple teaching awards from the MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Orthopedic Surgery Residency and from the Curtis National Hand Center Hand/Upper Extremity Surgery Fellowship. Dr. Means was also part of the inaugural international hand mission with Operation Smile.
Dr. Means attended a 7-year accelerated B.S./M.D. program at TSC-UMDNJ-NJMS, now TCNJ-Rutgers-NJMS, and then completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He did additional fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Curtis National Hand Center.
Dr. Means has been named an annual Top Doc by Baltimore magazine for Hand Surgery since 2017, most recently in 2023.
Clinical areas of focus
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Ganglion Cysts
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Trigger Finger
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acantholytic Disorders
- Acquired Absence Of Limb
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Amputation Of Fingers
- Areola Deformity
- Arm Fracture
- Arthritis
- Arthritis Of The Wrist
- Arthropathy
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Bone Nonunion
- Boutonniere Deformity
- Boxer's Fracture
- Bursopathy
- Chronic Gout
- Congenital Hand Deformities
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Contact With Powered Hand Tools And Household Machinery
- Crush Injury Of The Hand
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Arthritis
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Enteropathic Arthropathies
- Finger Arthritis
- Finger Injury
- Finger Joint Dislocation
- Finger Laceration
- Finger Sprains
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Forearm And Elbow Joint Instability
- Forearm Fracture
- Forearm Tendon Injury
- Ganglion Cysts
- Gout
- Hand And Wrist Arthritis
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Hand Tendon Injury
- Head Injury
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Laceration Of Hand
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Mallet Finger
- Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis Of First Carpometacarpal Joint
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Osteonecrosis Of The Hand
- Polyosteoarthritis
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Radial Nerve Injury
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
- Rheumatoid Arthritis With Rheumatoid Factor
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Muscle, Fascia, And Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder Fracture
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Swan Neck Deformity
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinous Disorders
- Tendon Damage In The Hand
- Tendonitis Of The Hand
- Thumb Synovitis
- Trigger Finger
- Trigger Thumb
- Wrist And Hand Amputation
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Laceration
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist Blood Vessel Injury
- Wrist Joint Dislocation
- Wrist, Hand, And Finger Crushing Injury
Procedures I perform
- Amputation With Direct Closure
- Arthrocentesis
- Articular Fracture Treatment
- Bennett Fracture Treatment
- Bone Density Scan
- Bone Graft
- Bone Repair
- Boutonniere Deformity Correction
- Boxer's Fracture Treatment
- Capsulotomy Of Wrist
- Carpal Bone Fracture Treatment
- Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Carpectomy Of All Bones Of Proximal Row
- Carpectomy Of One Bone
- Carpometacarpal Dislocation Treatment
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- De Quervain Tenosynovitis Treatment
- Distal Phalangeal Fracture Treatment
- Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
- Distal Radius Fracture Treatment
- Dupuytren Contracture Treatment
- Electromyography
- Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
- Excision Of Bone Cyst Or Tumor Of Radius Or Ulna
- Excision Of Tendon
- Excision Of Tendon Sheath Or Joint Capsule Lesion
- Excision Of Tumor Or Vascular Malformation
- Excision Or Curettage, Radius Or Olecranon Process
- Excision, Tumor, Soft Tissue, Or Vascular Malformation, Of Hand Or Finger
- Extensor Tendon Grafting
- Extensor Tendon Sheath Incision
- Facial Nerve Repair
- Fasciectomy Of Palm
- Fasciectomy With Release Of Single Digit
- Femoral Nerve Reposition
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Contracture Release
- Finger Joint Replacement
- Foot Subcutaneous Tissue Diagnostic Drainage
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Hand Drainage
- Hand Fracture External Fixation
- Hand Replantation
- Hand Tendon Excision
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Hand Transplantation
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Intercarpal Arthroplasty
- Interphalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Interphalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
- Joint Arthroscopy
- Joint Drainage
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Median Nerve Release
- Metacarpal Fracture Treatment
- Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Microsurgery
- Muscle Flap
- Nail Biopsy
- Nail Plate Avulsion
- Nerve Block
- Nerve Graft
- Neuroma Excision, Digital Nerve
- Neuroplasty
- Opponensplasty
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Osteotomy
- Partial Excision Of Bone
- Phalangeal Fracture Treatment
- Phalangeal Shaft Fracture Treatment
- Phalanx Bone Excision
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Radial And Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Removal Of Implant
- Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Skin Graft
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Splinting
- Stenting Of Blood Vessels
- Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
- Tendon Excision
- Tendon Lengthening
- Tendon Sheath Drainage
- Tendon Transplantation
- Tendonitis Treatment
- Tenolysis
- Tenotomy
- Trigger Finger Treatment
- Ulnar Nerve Compression Treatment
- Wound Repair
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability Treatment
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open POS II
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Basic
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- HighMark
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-POS
- TRICARE for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Choice POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Navigate
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- POS OA
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Medicare Direct
- Police and Fire Clinic
- HumanaChoice PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Network OA
- IH-Network Only Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- OA Plus
- First Health PPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hand Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2006)
Residency: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2005)
Medical School: University Of Medicine & Dentistry Of New Jersey (2000)
Awards
- Annual Baltimore magazine Top Doc 2017, 2025
- Golden Apple Teaching Awards 2016, 2010, and 2008
- American Association for Hand Surgery Annual Best Research Paper Award 2017
- Roger H. Michael/Johnson & Johnson Resident Research Award
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Educational Media:
WMAR ABC TV 5 O’Clock News Interview - “Frostbite” – 2015
About.com - “Preventing wrist pain in cyclists” – 2014
CBS Radio Better Golf with Joe Plecker Interview - “Hamate hook fractures” – 2012
CBS Radio Public Service Message - “Lawnmower safety for your hands” – 2012
Baltimore Business Journal - “How Baltimore-area doctors cope with stress” – 2012
WBFF FOX45 News Interview - “Dupuytren’s disease” – 2011
WMAR ABC TV 11 O’Clock News Interview - “Thumb arthritis” – 2008
WYPR FM 88.1 Radio Commentary - “Cubital tunnel syndrome – the other carpal tunnel” – 2007
Baltimore Sun Newspaper Interview with Chris Emery - “Use caution to avoid common winter injuries” – 2007
WBAL AM 1090 Radio Interview with Bruce Elliott - “Distal radius fractures” – 2006
Retirement Living TV Healthline Program Interview with Kevin Soden - “Carpal Tunnel” – 2006