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
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Elbow Arthritis
- Flexor Tendon Repair
- Hand Arthritis
- Minimally Invasive Surgery Of The Hand
- Proximal Humerus Fractures
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Fracture
- Shoulder Instability
- Tendinitis Of The Hand
- Total Shoulder Replacement Reversal Surgery
- Wrist Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormalities Of The Hands
- Acromioclavicular Fracture
- Acromioclavicular Joint Separation
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Adhesive Capsulitis Of The Shoulder
- Annular Ligament Displacement
- Arm Fracture
- Avascular Necrosis Of Shoulder
- Avascular Necrosis Of The Arm
- Avascular Necrosis Of The Elbow
- Axillary Neuropathy
- Bankart Lesions
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Bursitis Of The Arm
- Bursitis Of The Elbow
- Calcific Tendonitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- Clavicle Fracture
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Elbow
- Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Shoulder
- Distal Clavicular Osteolysis
- Distal Radial Fracture
- Dupuytren Contracture
- Elbow Arthritis
- Elbow Bone Spur
- Elbow Dislocation
- Elbow Fracture
- Elbow Injury
- Elbow Pain
- Elbow Sprain
- Epicondylitis
- Finger Arthritis
- Finger Dislocation
- Finger Fracture
- Finger Osteoarthritis
- Forearm Fracture
- Ganglion Cyst
- Gout Of The Arm
- Gout Of The Elbow
- Hand Arthritis
- Hand Fracture
- Hand Osteoarthritis
- Humerus Fracture
- Joint Dislocation
- Lateral Epicondylitis
- Locking Elbow
- Locking Shoulder
- Long Thoracic Neuropathy
- Mallet Finger
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injury Of The Elbow
- Medial Epicondylitis
- Musculocutaneous Neuropathy
- Nail Injury
- Non-Displaced Fracture Of Radius
- Non-Displaced Fracture Of Ulna
- Osteochondral Lesions Of The Upper Extremities
- Pectoralis Major Tendon Injury
- Periprosthetic Humerus Fracture
- Plexopathy
- Prosthetic Joint Infection Of The Elbow
- Prosthetic Joint Infection Of The Shoulder
- Proximal Humerus Fractures
- Proximal Ulnar Fracture
- Radial Fracture
- Radial Head Subluxation
- Radial Pseudarthrosis
- Radioulnar Synostosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rotator Cuff Impingement
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Scapula Fracture
- Scapular Dyskinesis
- Separated Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Fracture
- Shoulder Impingement
- Shoulder Injury
- Shoulder Instability
- Shoulder Labral Tear
- Shoulder Pain
- Slap Tear
- Spinal Accessory Neuropathy
- Stress Fracture Of The Radius
- Suprascapular Neuropathy
- Tendinitis Of The Elbow
- Tendinitis Of The Hand
- Tendinosis
- Tendon Injury
- Tenosynovitis
- Tenosynovitis Of Hand
- Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injury
- Trigger Finger
- Ulnar Fracture
- Ulnar Nerve Injury
- Ulnar Pseudarthrosis
- Upper Extremity Neuropathy
- Wrist Arthritis
- Wrist Dislocation
- Wrist Fracture
Procedures I perform
- Acromioclavicular Joint Repair
- Amputation Of The Finger Surgery
- Arthroscopic Shoulder Decompression
- Arthroscopy
- Arthroscopy Of Elbow
- Arthroscopy Of Shoulder
- Arthroscopy Of Wrist
- Biceps Tendon Repair
- Bone Grafting
- Bone Surgery
- Brachial Plexus Surgery
- Closed Reduction And Manipulation
- Decompression Median Nerve At Elbow
- Elbow Injection
- Elbow Joint Excision
- Elbow Joint Replacement
- Elbow Reconstruction
- Elbow Surgery
- Flexor Tendon Repair
- Fusion Arthrodesis
- Joint Replacement
- Joint Replacement And Reconstructive Surgery
- Joint Revision
- Minimally Invasive Elbow Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery Of The Hand
- Multiple Ligament Reconstruction
- Nerve Reconstruction
- Non Surgical Fracture Care
- Open Reduction Internal Fixation Orif Clavicle
- Open Reduction Internal Fixation Orif Proximal Humerus
- Orthopedic Stem Cell Regeneration
- Osteoplasty
- Patient Specific Instrumentation
- Pectoralis Major Tendon Tear Repair
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Of The Shoulder
- Platelet Rich Plasma Injection (PRP) Of The Elbow
- Preoperative Digital Planning
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Scapula Fusion Surgery
- Shoulder Injection
- Shoulder Joint Preservation Surgery
- Shoulder Labral Tear Repair
- Shoulder Prosthesis
- Shoulder Reconstruction
- Shoulder Stabilization
- Shoulder Surgery
- Stem Cell Treatment For Joint Disease
- Superior Capsular Reconstruction
- Surgery For Arthritis
- Synovectomy Of Elbow
- Synovectomy Of Shoulder
- Tendon Repair Surgery
- Total Elbow Replacement, Age Greater Than 50
- Total Elbow Replacement, Age Less Than 50
- Total Shoulder Replacement Reversal Surgery
- Total Shoulder Replacement Revision Surgery
- Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
- Tricep Repair
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair
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
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Student Resources
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Tricare Prime
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- First Health PPO
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- FIRST HEALTH
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgery of the Hand
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (2006)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (2005)
Graduate: Baylor College of Medicine Office of the Registrar (2000)
Awards
- Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine: 2023