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
- 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 Sheath Drainage
- Tenolysis
- Tenotomy
- Thumb Fracture Treatment
- Tissue Expansion
- Ulnar Nerve Release
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability Treatment
- Wrist Manipulation
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3333 N Calvert St
2nd Fl
Baltimore, MD, 21218
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
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Network OA
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BlueChoice Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Basic
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- POS OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-POS Plus
- OA Plus
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Choice POS
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-POS
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Optimum Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Sentara Health
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Navigate
- Choice POS II
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Beech Street PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- 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