Christopher Ernst Attinger, MD| Plastic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
Christopher E. Attinger, MD, is board certified plastic surgeon, located at our MedStar Georgetown University Hospital location. Dr. Attinger is Director of the Center for Wound Healing and Professor for our MedStar Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department.
His experience during his two tours of duty in the Vietnam War led Dr. Attinger to his career in medicine. The complexity and challenges of healing wounds while preserving function is the key to his continued focus within reconstructive surgery and wound care.
As a wound care specialist and surgeon, he focuses on using limb-saving techniques and amputation to give patients the ability to take full advantage of their physical capabilities.
He leads a team that specializes in preventing and treating lower extremity complications caused by trauma, vascular disease, and Diabetes. The team includes Vascular, Plastic, Podiatric and Orthopedic Surgeons, as well as Prosthetitists, Hyperbarists, Hospitalists, Rheumatologists, Dermatologists and Infectious Disease specialists, who provide seamless care and expertise that is tailored to returning patients to their optimal function.
Read details about Dr. Attinger's background and accomplishments.
Clinical areas of focus
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Clubfoot Correction
- Flap Surgery
- Foot Sprain Treatment
- Skin Graft
- Wound Care
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Open Wound
- Acantholytic Disorders
- Acquired Absence Of Limb
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Ankle Amputation
- Ankle And Foot Burn
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Ankle And Foot Injury
- Arthropathies In Diseases
- Atherosclerosis
- Benign Tumor
- Body Region Injury
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Bursopathy
- Chest Burn And Corrosion
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Complications Of Reattachment And Amputation
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Deformities Of Feet
- Congenital Ichthyosis
- Connective Tissue Disorders
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Dermatophytosis (RINGWORM)
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Early Complications Of Trauma
- Enthesopathies
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Foot And Ankle Trauma
- Gout
- Hip And Thigh Open Wound
- Hip And Thigh Reconstruction
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Hypertrophic Skin Disorders
- Inflammatory Skin Disorders
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Leg Amputation
- Leg Ulcers
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Limb Ulcer
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Nail Disorders
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Shoulder Open Wound
- Skin And Soft Tissue Infections
- Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
- Skin Disorders Due To Radiation
- Spina Bifida
- Superficial Knee Injury
- Thoracic Cavity Open Wound
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities
- Vein Disorders
- Venous Embolism
- Venous Ulcers
- Wound Care
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Procedures I perform
- Abdominoplasty
- Bilateral Breast Augmentation
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breast Reduction
- Cleft Lip And Palate Treatment
- Cleft Palate Repair
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Clubfoot Correction
- Debridement Of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection
- Diabetes Foot Care
- Diabetic Limb Salvage
- Facelift
- Facial Cosmetic Surgery
- Fasciotomy
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Flap Reconstruction
- Flap Surgery
- Foot Sprain Treatment
- Hindfoot Amputation
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Incision And Drainage Of Abscess
- Liposuction
- Mastopexy
- Microsurgery
- Non-Healing Wound Treatment
- Patching Therapy
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Revascularization
- Scar Revision
- Skin Graft
- Skin Graft Urethroplasty
- Skin Tag Removal
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Suture Removal
- Tissue Expansion
- Toe Amputation
- Toe Replacement Surgery
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Vestibuloplasty
- Wound Care
- Wound Closure
- Wound Debridement
- Wound Dressing
- Wound Dressing Change
- Wound Excision
- Wound Reconstruction
- Wound Repair
- Wound Skin Grafting
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
- IH-Indemnity
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA EPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UHC Passport
- Core Essential (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Navigate
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice POS II Open Access
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Medicare Direct
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Choice POS
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Student Resources
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Choice POS II
- Network OA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- HighMark
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Medicare FFS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- First Health PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
Residency: New York University School of Medicine (1989)
Fellowship: Brigham and Womens Hospital (1987)
Residency: Brigham and Womens Hospital (1986)
Internship: Brigham and Womens Hospital (1982)
Medical School: Yale University (1981)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
MyGeorgetownMD - Health Newsletter (Winter 2017) Novel Heel Surgery Saves Patient's Foot for the Across the Bay 10K