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
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Choice Plus
- Kaiser Signature
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Select
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- Tricare for Life East
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- United Navigate
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Choice
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- United Golden Rule
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Tricare East Prime
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Tricare Reserve Select
- WellPoint Maryland
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Cigna Indemnity
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- D-SNP)
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Carefirst EPO
- Virginia Premier
- United Optimum Choice
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Innovation Health: POS
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Student Resources
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- United Select Plus (POS)
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Tricare East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- I-SNP
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- 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 (2000)
Awards
- Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine: 2023