James Patrick Higgins, MD| Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
Dr. James Higgins is Chief of The Curtis National Hand Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Dr. Higgins specializes in complex reconstruction after trauma, microsurgery, congenital hand surgery as well as fractures and disorders of the arm and wrist. He is fellowship trained in hand surgery and board certified in plastic surgery.
Dr. Higgins is recognized as a leading surgeon in the field and a sought-after national and international presenter and visiting professor. His numerous research studies and clinical trial research projects are published in prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. While treating commonplace hand conditions he has been recognized as a leader in complex areas of hand surgery including microsurgery, hand replantation and transplantation, and wrist reconstruction.
Dr. Higgins believes in treating all patients in the same way that he would treat a family member. His dedication to patient care and compassion led him to be named a Top Doctor by Baltimore Magazine, most recently in 2023, and a Super Doctor by The Washington Post.
Each year the two largest national scientific organizations of hand and microsurgery select a travelling ambassador surgeon from among their ranks of thousands of surgeons around the globe. Dr Higgins has served as the selected ambassador and travelling fellow for each of these groups. In 2010 Dr. Higgins served as the Godina travelling fellow for the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. In 2013 he then served as the Sterling Bunnell travelling fellow for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Dr Higgins is one of only two surgeons globally who have ever received both of these prestigious accolades.
Awards
Dr. Higgins was named a 2023 and 2020 “Top Doc” by Baltimore Magazine for Hand Surgery and has been recognized since 2015.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Ganglion Cysts
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Trigger Finger
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acantholytic Disorders
- Acquired Absence Of Limb
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Amputation Of Fingers
- Arthritis
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Bone Nonunion
- Boxer's Fracture
- Broken Hand
- Bursopathy
- Complications Of Reattachment And Amputation
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Crush Injury Of The Hand
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- De Quervain’S Tenosynovitis
- Dislocated Finger
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Early Complications Of Trauma
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Arthritis
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Enteropathic Arthropathies
- Finger Arthritis
- Finger Joint Dislocation
- Finger Sprains
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Forearm And Elbow Joint Instability
- Forearm Blood Vessel Injury
- Forearm Fracture
- Forearm Tendon Injury
- Fractured Wrist
- Ganglion Cysts
- Gout
- Hand And Finger Nerve Damage
- Hand And Wrist Arthritis
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Hand Tendon Injury
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Kienbock's Disease
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Mallet Finger
- Median Nerve Compression
- Muscle Disorders
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis Of First Carpometacarpal Joint
- Osteoarthritis Of The Finger
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery
- Polyosteoarthritis
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Amputation
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinous Disorders
- Tendon Damage In The Hand
- Tendonitis Of The Hand
- Tenosynovitis Of The Wrist
- Thumb Synovitis
- Trigger Finger
- Trigger Thumb
- Wrist And Hand Amputation
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist Blood Vessel Injury
- Wrist Joint Dislocation
- Wrist, Hand, And Finger Crushing Injury
Procedures I perform
- Arthritis Procedures
- Articular Fracture Treatment
- Bone Graft
- Bone Graft With Microvascular Anastomosis
- Burn Treatment
- Bursa Excision
- Capsulotomy Of Wrist
- Carpal Bone Fracture Treatment
- Carpal Replacement
- Carpal Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Carpectomy Of All Bones Of Proximal Row
- Carpectomy Of One Bone
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Digital Neuroplasty
- Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
- Dupuytren Contracture Treatment
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Elbow Ligament Repair
- Elbow Replacement
- Excision Of Bone Cyst Or Tumor Of Radius Or Ulna
- Excision, Olecranon Bursa
- Extensor Tendon Grafting
- Extensor Tendon Sheath Incision
- Fasciectomy With Release Of Single Digit
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Contracture Release
- Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
- Free Osteocutaneous Flap With Microvascular Anastomosis
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Hand Arthritis Treatment
- Hand Fracture External Fixation
- Hand Tendon Excision
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Intercarpal Arthroplasty
- Interphalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Left Axillary Lymphatic Autologous Supplement
- Lunate Dislocation Treatment
- Median Nerve Excision
- Median Nerve Release
- Metacarpal Fracture Treatment
- Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
- Microsurgery
- Minimally Invasive Hand Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Muscle Release
- Nerve Conduit
- Palmar Fasciectomy
- Pectoralis Major Transfer
- Pedicle Formation
- Percutaneous Osteoplasty
- Percutaneous Sacral Nerve Release
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery
- Phalangeal Shaft Fracture Treatment
- Phalanx Bone Excision
- Phoropter
- Radius And Ulna Fracture Treatment
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Scar Revision
- Skin Graft Urethroplasty
- Skin Harvest For Tissue Cultured Skin Autograft
- Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
- Sympathectomy
- Synovectomy Of Tendon Sheath
- Tendinitis Treatment
- Tendon Lengthening
- Tendon Sheath Drainage
- Tenolysis
- Tenotomy
- Thumb Fracture Treatment
- Ulnar Nerve Release
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability Treatment
- Wrist Manipulation
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
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Optimum Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- OA Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- United Student Resources
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-Indemnity
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- POS OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Navigate
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- First Health PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- HighMark
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2002)
Residency: University of Rochester School of Medicine GME (2001)
Residency: University of Rochester School of Medicine GME (1999)
Medical School: University of Rochester (1996)
Awards
- Baltimore Magazine Top Doc - 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015