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Title Chair, Levitetz Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Department Orthopaedic Surgery
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English, Spanish
Surgeon Yes
Locations Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Arthritis Surgery
  • Electrical Stimulation
  • Hip Replacement
  • Hip Revision
  • Hip Surgery
  • Joint Injections
  • Joint Preserving Hip Surgery
  • Joint Reconstruction
  • Joint Replacement
  • Knee Reconstructive Surgery
  • Knee Replacement
  • Knee Revision
  • Knee Surgery
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Orthopaedics
  • Patellofemoral Knee Surgery
  • Reconstructive Surgery of the Hip
  • Revision Hip Arthroplasty
  • Revision Hip Joint Replacement
  • Revision Joint Replacement
  • Revision Knee Arthroplasty
  • Revision Total Hip Replacement
  • Revision Total Knee Replacement
  • Robotic Assisted Hip Replacement
  • Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement
  • Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Replacement
  • Total Knee Replacement
View all 27 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Arthritis of the Hip
  • Arthritis of the Knee
  • Hip Pain
  • Knee Injuries
  • Knee Joint Disorders
  • Muscle Aches/Pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Scars
  • Tendinosis
  • Tendonitis
View all 11 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About Carlos Higuera Rueda, MD

Carlos Higuera-Rueda is currently a staff surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Florida, where he divides his time between leadership, research and patient care. He is the Chairman of the Levitetz Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida and Director of the Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Center. Dr. Higuera completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic and a clinical fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. 

Dr. Higuera specializes in hip and knee arthroplasty surgery. He is interested in complex revision procedures including infections. His research interest is mainly in periprosthetic joint infections including diagnostic tools, patient optimization and overall outcomes after arthroplasty. He is currently working on developing new technologies to diagnose and treat such infections. He is the president of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society. 

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2012

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Adult Reconstructive Orthopaedics
Philadelphia, PA
2012

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Orthopaedic Surgery
Cleveland, OH
2011

Internship - Cleveland Clinic
General Surgery
Cleveland, OH
2005

Medical Education - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Biomechanics
Baltimore, MD
2004

Medical Education - Pontificia Universidad Javeriana School of Medicine
MD
Bogota, Colombia
1999

Certifications

  • Orthopaedic Surgery

Specialty Interests

Hip and knee replacement, including primary and revision hip and knee surgery; hip muscle sparing techniques; knee patellofemoral arthroplasty; clinical outcomes research; predictive modeling

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Carlos Higuera Rueda, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 10/19/2024, Dr. Higuera Rueda has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Consulting and/or Speaking. Dr. Higuera Rueda receives fees of $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) as a paid consultant, speaker or as a member of an advisory committee for the following companies:

  • Solventum Corp.
  • Stryker Corporation

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

307 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.9 out of 5
Explains 4.8
Listens 5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.8

52 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Oct 11, 2024

Dr Higuera and his team are the most professional and honest doctors I have ever met, I highly recommend him

Reviewed on Oct 9, 2024

My brother recommended me to the doctor and the clinic and he fell short, because the service and the doctor were excellent, he explained everything in detail, and the clinic staff excellent

Reviewed on Oct 2, 2024

Dr. Carlos Higuera is an excellent doctor/surgeon. Shows concern and compassion. Listens well . Includes me and my husband in decisions.

Reviewed on Sep 26, 2024

This has been a wonderful experience all around. Dr Higuera is friendly, courteous, caring, very knowledgeable and informative , and is the utmost professional! I certainly felt I was in very competent hands with Dr Higuera and the rest of the team involved in my care.

Reviewed on Sep 25, 2024

Very good experience. Dr Rueda was wonderful. He spent time with me answering all my questions. I have complete confidence in him.

Reviewed on Sep 25, 2024

Good experience I'm an older woman and was treated with complete respect and listened to iI definitely would recommend Cleveland Clinic and Dr Rueda hands down.

Reviewed on Sep 25, 2024

I was very satisfied with the staff and the doctor was very patient and kind

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2024

Dr was extremely nice

Reviewed on Aug 29, 2024

After speaking with Dr Higuera, I immediately felt I was in very good, capable hands.

Reviewed on Aug 28, 2024

My evaluation of Dr. Higuera and his team is SUPERLATIVES all the way!

Reviewed on Aug 28, 2024

My husband and I would definitely and wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Higuera to anyone who needs knee surgery.

Reviewed on Aug 7, 2024

Outstanding service from Dr. Higuera. Spent time with patient explaining all details.

Reviewed on Jul 24, 2024

The doctor has an excellent bedside manner. He answered all of my concerns and gave me confidence that my Issue will be resolved. He Is the only physician to go to for orthopaedics.

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2024

The DOCTORS were very good

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2024

Profesional, excelente Doctor, thank you.

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2024

Excellent physician and assistants

Reviewed on Jun 26, 2024

Dr Higuera was fantastic!

Reviewed on May 8, 2024

Dr Higuera and his team are outstanding.

Reviewed on May 1, 2024

The doctor gave a suggestion to remedy my chief complaint that was reasonable.

Reviewed on May 1, 2024

Dr Higuera, excelente Dr. Showed a lot of interest

Reviewed on May 1, 2024

Dr carlos fixed my problem when others would not touch it

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2024

Will recommend Dr. Higuera to my friends in need of orthopedic surgery

Reviewed on Apr 19, 2024

Dr Higuera has been fantastic

Reviewed on Apr 12, 2024

Dr Rueda took his time to explain everything about the operation, very polite

Reviewed on Apr 12, 2024

Excellent Doctor , highly recommended, I had knee replacement in less than months, both of 3us and my mom had a right knee replacement a month ago, she has an incredible work team, from Evelin, the coordinator of the surgeries and the doctor is more than an excellent human being for all knowledge, he is a great human person, God bless him.

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024

Had a great visit with Dr Higuera,he explained all the procedures of the surgery and I feel I am better prepare for what awaits.

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024

The best doctor I found in Miami and Houston he is very professional

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024

Great doctor and he is very patient and kind. He always answers my questions and gives me great medical advice.

Reviewed on Apr 3, 2024

Great experience..I felt like I was sitting in the office with Dr. Higuera We worked through all post surgery details.He is an outstanding physician..I so appreciate his knowledge ,skill and expertise..

Reviewed on Mar 28, 2024

We had an excellent experience with Dr. Higuera. We really liked his treatment

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024

Bad experience regarding doctors manners with patientHe was yelling the whole time he was talking to me and gave me the impression I was wasting his timeDisappointed with his manners

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024

My bad impression was with the physician Very Rude Manners

Reviewed on Mar 13, 2024

I felt very confident that Dr. Higuera is the right doctor for my surgery.

Reviewed on Mar 13, 2024

Love that Dr. Higuera has office hours at Coral Springs

Reviewed on Mar 13, 2024

Dr. Higuera is an accomplished and fabulous surgeon. I highly recommend him and have recommended him.

Reviewed on Mar 6, 2024

My experience with Dr. Higuera and his team for me was excellent

Reviewed on Mar 1, 2024

Dr higuera was just super!

Reviewed on Feb 29, 2024

Doctor and nurse just wonderful!

Reviewed on Feb 29, 2024

Doctor is exceptional! Very considerate, thorough, took time to listen. He's one of the best.

Reviewed on Feb 7, 2024

This visit was a consultation for a fall I had in Aug 2022 in which I still have pain in my hip after fracturing the head of my femur at the age of 72. The doctor explained the rod and the pin are in position and recommended PT for arthritis in lower back which was seen in the X-ray.

Reviewed on Feb 2, 2024

Dr. Higuera is always attentive and caring in a most professional way.

Reviewed on Jan 26, 2024

Dr Higuera was the best - listened to my case, provided the best feedback, addressed my concerns and provided a trouble free solution to my upcoming surgery.

Reviewed on Jan 26, 2024

I always have outstanding services when I come To see doctors for my ejection the best.

Reviewed on Jan 26, 2024

I been a patient of Dr. Higuara for over two years and I never have had anything but good things to say about him or his staff.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2024

The best doctor in the world

Reviewed on Jan 5, 2024

Dr. Higuera was very understanding and caring.

Reviewed on Jan 3, 2024

I was extremely please with the doctor and fellow.

Reviewed on Dec 21, 2023

EVERYTHING WAS GREAT,MY PHYSICIAN WAS EXCELLENT WITH BOTH OF MY PROCEDURES

Reviewed on Nov 29, 2023

Physician is very knowledgeable

Reviewed on Nov 29, 2023

Dr. Higuera is a world class physician at a world class hospital. I feel so confident with his excellence and care.

Reviewed on Nov 29, 2023

Having had two TKR with Dr. Higuera and The Cleveland Clinic I'm so impressed with the smoothness and genuine teamwork throughout. The culture is certainly patient first'.

Reviewed on Nov 29, 2023

Dr Higuera is the best doctor ever.

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