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