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
- 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
- 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
- Iontophoresis For Medication Delivery
- Joint Drainage
- Lateral Epicondyle Release
- Left Ulnar Artery Repair
- 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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3333 N Calvert St
2nd Fl
Baltimore, MD, 21218
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 HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice Fund PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Network OA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Choice POS
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna VA Exchange
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Navigate
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Medicare FFS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- HighMark
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Sentara Health
- CIGNA EPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- First Health PPO
- United Student Resources
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Choice
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Basic
- POS OA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst NASCO
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
Education
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