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
- Lesion Excision
- 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
- Tissue Expansion
- 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
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Network OA
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UHC Passport
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- POS OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- 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
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst NASCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-POS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Navigate
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HighMark
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna HMO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- 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