Christopher Lee Forthman, MD| Orthopedic Surgery, Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
Dr. Forthman trained in orthopaedic surgery at Harvard and cultivated a great interest in surgery of the entire upper extremity. His specialties are; arthroscopic treatment of shoulder disorders (e.g. rotator cuff tears and instability), shoulder and elbow joint replacement, reverse shoulder replacement, complex fractures of the shoulder, elbow and wrist and reconstructive surgery.
In 2023, he was named a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine."
Clinical areas of focus
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
- Tendonitis Of The Hand
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acantholytic Disorders
- Acquired Absence Of Limb
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Amputation Of Fingers
- Arm Fracture
- Arthropathy
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Broken Collarbone
- Bursopathy
- Complications Of Reattachment And Amputation
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Crush Injury Of The Hand
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Early Complications Of Trauma
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Finger And Hand Amputation
- Finger Injury
- Finger Sprains
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Forearm Blood Vessel Injury
- Forearm Fracture
- Forearm Tendon Injury
- Ganglion Cysts
- Gout
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Infection
- Hand Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Derangement In The Hand
- Joint Disorder
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Muscle Disorders
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Olecranon Bursitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis Of First Carpometacarpal Joint
- Osteoarthritis Of The Finger
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Patella Dislocation
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
- Rheumatoid Arthritis With Rheumatoid Factor
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Blood Vessel Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Muscle, Fascia, And Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinous Disorders
- Tendonitis Of The Hand
- Tendonitis Of The Shoulder
- Tennis Elbow
- Tenosynovitis Of The Wrist
- Thumb Arthritis
- Thumb Synovitis
- Toe Amputation
- Trigger Finger
- 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
- Bone Graft
- Bursitis Treatment
- Calcific Tendonitis Treatment
- Carpal Bone Fracture Treatment
- Carpectomy Of All Bones Of Proximal Row
- Carpometacarpal Dislocation Treatment
- Cartilage Transplant
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Detachment At Left Middle Finger
- Digital Neuroplasty
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Elbow Dislocation Reduction
- Elbow Joint Replacement
- Elbow Ligament Repair
- Elbow Pain Treatment
- Elbow Replacement
- Extensor Tendon Grafting
- Extensor Tendon Sheath Incision
- Filleted Finger Or Toe Flap
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Contracture Release
- Finger Nail Repair
- Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
- Finger Phalanx Excision
- Hand Drainage
- Hand Fracture External Fixation
- Hand Skin Excision
- Hand Subcutaneous Tissue And Fascia Drainage
- Hand Tendon Excision
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Hand Transplantation
- Internal Lengthening Nail
- Interphalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
- Interphalangeal Joint Dislocation Treatment
- Iontophoresis For Medication Delivery
- Joint Drainage
- Lateral Epicondyle Release
- Left Ulnar Artery Repair
- Medial Epicondyle Release
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Median Nerve Release
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant
- Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
- Metacarpal Joint Replacement
- Metacarpophalangeal Dislocation Treatment
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Minimally Invasive Hand Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Nerve Graft
- Neuromuscular Reeducation For Muscle Control
- Neuroplasty
- Occupational Therapy Evaluation
- Opponensplasty
- Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment
- Proximal Humerus Fracture Treatment
- Proximal Phalanx Osteotomy
- Radial Nerve Excision
- Radial Nerve Release
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Repair Left Hand Vein
- Right Ulnar Artery Repair
- Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment
- Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Short Arm Splint
- Skin Substitute Grafting
- Skin Transplant
- Soft Tissue Graft
- Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
- Tendinitis Treatment
- Tendon Lengthening
- Tendon Sheath Drainage
- Tendon Transplantation
- Tenolysis
- Thumb Phalanx Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Tommy John Surgery
- Ulnar Nerve Release
- Ulnar Nerve Supplement
- Visian Icl
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability Treatment
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
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Administrators
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- TRICARE for Life East
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Sentara Health
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst NASCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- POS OA
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Student Resources
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- TRICARE East Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Employee Health Plan
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UHC Passport
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- HighMark
- IH-Open HMO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Navigate
- IH-HMO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- OA Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
Education
Board Certification:
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hand Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2006)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (2005)
Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital (2001)
Graduate: Baylor College of Medicine (2000)
Awards
- Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine: 2023, 2025