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