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