Christopher Lee Forthman, MD| Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery, Hand 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 Graft
- 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
- Metacarpal Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Metacarpophalangeal Dislocation Treatment
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
- Minimally Invasive Hand Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Nerve Graft
- Neuromuscular Reeducation For Muscle Control
- Neuroplasty
- Occupational Therapy Evaluation
- Open Ulnar Fracture Treatment
- 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
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice POS II Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice POS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- POS OA
- CareFirst Administrators
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- HighMark
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Network OA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-Indemnity
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-POS
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Student Resources
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- TRICARE for Life East
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- OA Plus
- Sentara Health
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hand Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hand Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2006)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (2005)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (2001)
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine (2000)
Awards
- Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine: 2023, 2025