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.
Q&A
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
- 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 Sheath Drainage
- Tenolysis
- Tenotomy
- Thumb Fracture Treatment
- Tissue Expansion
- Ulnar Nerve Release
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability Treatment
- Wrist Manipulation
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3333 N Calvert St
2nd Fl
Baltimore, MD, 21218
Insurance
This list represents the major payors accepted by MedStar Health. NOTE: Payor contracts change and not all plans associated with a payor may be covered. Payors may offer multiple plans. If you have a question related to your insurance, please contact your insurance plan directly. Contact information is located on your health insurance ID card. *Denotes limited participation. Specific providers and practices may NOT be participating. Please contact your insurance plan directly.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Aetna
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland
- Cigna Health Care
- Kaiser Permanente*
- MedStar Select (Administered by CareFirst)
- United HealthCare
- Aetna
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland
- Healthspring
- Humana
- Medicare & Railroad Medicare
- United HealthCare
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland *
- Medical Assistance/Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice MD
- Priority Partners *
- United HealthCare Community Health Plan MD
- Wellpoint MD
- AmeriHealth Caritas
- Health Services For Children With Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Medical Assistance/Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice DC
- Johns Hopkins Employer Health Programs *
- Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan *
- MultiPlan
- Private Healthcare Systems
- Tricare/Humana Military
- VA Community Care Network (VACCN)
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