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