<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722723</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANGER ORTHOPEDIC GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HGR</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JP MORGAN PARTNERS BHCA LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>J.P. MORGAN PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 40TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>7% Redeemable Preferred Stock</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>16.50</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-22</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>26500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>1403.39</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-12-22</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1606060</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1381</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The Company is entitled to require the 7% Redeemable Preferred Stock to be converted into non-voting common stock on or after July 2, 2002, if the average closing price of the common stock for 20 consecutive trading days is equal to or greater than 175% of the conversion price.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> These shares were initially convertible into 1,606,060 shares on non-voting common stock of the Issuer.  However, accrued and unpaid dividends on the 7% Redeemable Preferred Stock will have the effect of increasing the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 7% Redeemable Preferred Stock.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> These shares were initially convertible into 83,697 shares of non-voting common stock of the Issuer.  However, accrued and unpaid dividends on the 7% Redeemable Preferred Stock will have the effect of increasing the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 7% Redeemable Preferred Stock.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F4"> There is no expiration date.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), L.P.</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>By: JPMP Master Fund Manager, L.P., its General Partner</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>By: JPMP Capital Corp., its General Partner</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Mitchell Blutt</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

