Mr John McKinley

Mr John McKinley is a highly respected Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising exclusively in foot and ankle surgery, with a leading role in advancing this subspecialty across Scotland. He completed all of his orthopaedic training in Edinburgh before undertaking advanced fellowship training in Melbourne, Australia, further refining his expertise in complex foot and ankle procedures. In 2007, he was appointed as a consultant at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, becoming the first consultant in Scotland dedicated primarily to foot and ankle surgery. He also provides specialist paediatric care at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Edinburgh. Mr McKinley holds key leadership roles, including Clinical Director for Orthopaedics in Edinburgh and Lead for Foot and Ankle Surgery in Lothian. He is actively involved with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where he chairs a committee and contributes to shaping orthopaedic practice and training nationally. His clinical expertise covers the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions, including bunions (hallux valgus), Morton’s neuroma, flatfoot and complex deformities, arthritis, ankle instability, Achilles tendon disorders, and sports injuries. He is highly experienced in performing total ankle replacements, offering an alternative to fusion where appropriate. A pioneer of minimally invasive techniques in Scotland, Mr McKinley was among the first to adopt these approaches for bunion correction and Achilles tendon procedures, helping patients benefit from faster recovery, reduced pain, and improved cosmetic outcomes. He also has a strong interest in sports injuries, treating elite athletes from organisations such as Scottish Rugby Union and Scottish Institute of Sport, tailoring treatment plans to support optimal recovery and return to performance. In addition to his clinical work, Mr McKinley is deeply committed to education. He helped establish a national multidisciplinary foot and ankle group and is Program Director for the ChM in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, a collaboration between University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He regularly trains surgeons and allied health professionals, contributing to the continued development of high-quality foot and ankle care across the UK.

"Evidence-based care tailored to each patient — taking the time to explain options and shared decisions."

1. 2007–2013
   MD · Medicine and Surgery

   Universidad de Navarra

2. 2013–2017
   Residency · Orthopaedic Surgery

   Universidad de Sevilla

3. 2017–2018
   Fellowship · Subspecialty training

   Mayo Clinic, US

1. 2017-09–2018-08
   Junior consultant

   Universidad de Navarra Teaching Hospital — Orthopaedic Surgery

1. 1 Choose a slot
2. 2 Brief pre-consult form
3. 3 Consultation
4. 4 Follow-up note & plan

Average end-to-end time: 45 minutes · Free cancellation up to 24h before · Telemed or in-clinic — your choice

h-index: 16 · i10: 8

Selected publications

1. European registry analysis of Orthopaedic Surgery outcomes

   Mr John McKinley, et al. · European Journal of Medicine, 2025

   DOI: 10.9367/euroclin.2025.0 · cited by 43

2. Outcomes of Orthopaedic Surgery in adults — a multi-centre cohort

   Mr John McKinley, et al. · European Journal of Medicine, 2024

   DOI: 10.7115/euroclin.2024.1 · cited by 129

3. European registry analysis of Orthopaedic Surgery outcomes

   Mr John McKinley, et al. · European Journal of Medicine, 2023

   DOI: 10.6442/euroclin.2023.2 · cited by 31

• Patient education Patient guide to Orthopaedic Surgery 2026-03-04 · 11 min read
• Awareness When should you see a orthopaedic surgery? 2026-01-27 · 7 min read