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