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