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 2020 “Top Doc” by Baltimore Magazine for Hand Surgery and has been recognized since 2015.
Clinical areas of focus
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Elbow Arthritis
- Flexor Tendon Repair
- Hand Arthritis
- Minimally Invasive Surgery Of The Hand
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Tendinitis Of The Hand
- Wrist Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormalities Of The Hands
- Acquired Radial Ulnar Synostosis
- Avascular Necrosis Of The Arm
- Avascular Necrosis Of The Lunate
- Benign Neoplasm Of Skin
- Buckle Fracture
- Burn Scars
- Bursitis Of The Elbow
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- Cellulitis Of Finger
- Compromised Skin Grafts
- Compromised Tissue Flaps
- Congenital Radial Ulnar Synostosis
- Contracture
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Digital Ischemia
- Distal Radial Fracture
- Dupuytren Contracture
- Elbow Arthritis
- Elbow Bone Spur
- Elbow Dislocation
- Elbow Fracture
- Elbow Injury
- Elbow Pain
- Elbow Sprain
- Epicondylitis
- Finger Arthritis
- Finger Dislocation
- Finger Fracture
- Finger Osteoarthritis
- Finger Tendon Tear
- Forearm Fracture
- Foreign Body (FINGER)
- Foreign Body (HAND)
- Galeazzi Fracture
- Ganglion Cyst
- Hand Arthritis
- Hand Fracture
- Lateral Epicondylitis
- Mallet Finger
- Malunion Fracture Of The Forearm
- Malunion Fracture Of The Wrist
- Medial Epicondylitis
- Nail Injury
- Nerve Injury
- Non-Displaced Fracture Of Radius
- Non-Displaced Fracture Of Ulna
- Nonunion Fracture Of The Forearm
- Proximal Ulnar Fracture
- Radial Fracture
- Radial Nerve Injury
- Radial Pseudarthrosis
- Radioulnar Synostosis
- Repetitive Stress Injury
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Scapholunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC)
- Sports Related Finger Injury
- Sports Related Hand Injury
- Sports Related Thumb Injury
- Sports Related Wrist Injury
- Stress Fracture Of The Radius
- Tendinitis Of The Hand
- Tendon Injury
- Tenosynovitis
- Tenosynovitis Of Hand
- Thumb Aplasia
- Traumatic Amputation Of The Arm
- Traumatic Amputation Of The Hand
- Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injury
- Trigger Finger
- Ulnar Fracture
- Ulnar Nerve Compression
- Ulnar Nerve Compression At/In Wrist Or Hand
- Ulnar Nerve Injury
- Ulnar Pseudarthrosis
- Wrist Arthritis
- Wrist Contracture
- Wrist Dislocation
- Wrist Fracture
- Wrist Sprain
- Wrist Tendon Tear
Procedures I perform
- Amputation Of The Finger Surgery
- Arthroscopy Of Wrist
- Burn Reconstruction
- Colles Fracture Surgery
- Complex Wound Management
- Cosmetic Hand Surgery
- Elbow Injection
- Elbow Surgery
- Finger Deformity Surgery
- Finger Flexor Recession
- Finger Fracture Surgery
- Finger Tendon Lengthening
- Fingernail Avulsion Procedure
- Fingertip Repair
- Flap Surgery
- Flexor Tendon Repair
- Forearm Fracture Surgery
- Galeazzi Fracture Surgery
- Hand Surgery
- Hand Therapies
- Hand Transplant
- Lunate Fracture Surgery
- Microsurgery
- Microvascular Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery Of The Hand
- Nerve Reconstruction
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Finger
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Hand
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Wrist
- Percutaneous Pinning
- Polydactyly Hand Surgery
- Post Traumatic Reconstruction
- Reconstructive Microsurgery
- Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Finger
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Repair Laceration
- Scapholunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC) Surgery
- Skin Graft
- Splinting
- Styloidectomy
- Tendon Repair Surgery
- Tenotomy
- Thumb Fracture Surgery
- Treatment For Post-Traumatic Deformity
- Trigger Finger Injection
- Trigger Point Injection
- Trigger Thumb Injection
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair
- Wrist Flexor Recession
- Wrist Steroid Injection
- Wrist Tendon Lengthening
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
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- Aetna HMO
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Innovation Health: POS
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Network OA
- PPO and PPO Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Open HMO
- Opoen HMO Option
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Open POS II
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Tricare Prime
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Student Resources
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- FIRST HEALTH
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Surgery of the Hand
Fellowship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2002)
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester (2001)
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester (1999)
Medical School: University of Rochester Department of Neurology (1996)
Awards
- Baltimore Magazine Top Doc - 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015