About
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.
Credentials
Education
- Fellowship Program MedStar Union Memorial Hospital (2006)
- Residency Program Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery (2005)
- Internship Program Massachusetts General Hospital (2001)
- Medical School Baylor College of Medicine (2000)
Conditions Treated
-
Rotator Cuff Tear
A variety of conditions and injuries can damage the shoulder’s rotator cuff, cause pain, and make it difficult for you to move your arm. A rotator cuff tear occurs in a spectrum that ranges from tendonitis to partial tears to…
Read More » -
Wrist Fracture (Break), Dislocation and Subluxation
Wrist or distal radius fractures are very common. In fact, the radius is the most commonly broken bone in the arm. The radius is the larger of the two bones of the forearm. The end toward the wrist is called…
Read More » -
Trauma to the Hand, Wrist, Forearm or Elbow
Trauma is damage done to the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments after an injury. These types of injuries may include after a fall, a household or vehicle accident or even as a result of violence.
Read More » -
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a space in the wrist where a nerve and nine tendons pass from the forearm into the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when swelling in the tunnel compresses the median nerve. As a result of the…
Read More » -
Trigger Finger / Trigger Thumb / Trigger Digit
Trigger Finger Trigger finger is a condition that affects the flexor tendons in your fingers or thumb and limits finger movement. When you bend or straighten your finger, the flexor tendon slides through a snug tunnel, called the tendon sheath…
Read More » -
Arthritis (Thumb)
Thumb arthritis, also called basal joint arthritis, is a type of osteoarthritis caused when cartilage wears away in the joint at the base of the thumb. This form of hand arthritis can result in pain with activities that involve gripping…
Read More » -
Elbow Fractures
Without much protection from muscles or other soft tissues, the elbow can easily break if you experience a direct blow to the elbow or fall on a bent elbow. When the elbow structure is altered, either by breaking a bone…
Read More » -
Avascular Necrosis (Shoulder)
Avascular necrosis of the shoulder occurs when a region of bone dies as the result of loss of its blood supply. The condition can be caused by a number of things including trauma, the use of corticosteroids, excessive alcohol consumption…
Read More » -
Proximal Humerus Fractures
A proximal humerus fracture is a common injury to the shoulder, especially among older individuals due to osteoporosis. This type of fracture occurs when the ball, of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint, is broken. About 80 percent of proximal humerus fractures…
Read More » -
Labrum Tear
The labrum is a soft fibrous tissue rim surrounding the shoulder socket that helps stabilize the joint. In addition, it serves as an attachment site for several ligaments. Injuries to the tissue rim, surrounding the shoulder socket, can occur from…
Read More » -
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator Cuff Tear A variety of conditions and injuries can damage the rotator cuff, cause shoulder pain, and make it difficult for you to move your arm. Rotator cuff injuries and tears occur in a spectrum that ranges from tendonitis…
Read More » -
Shoulder Pain, Instability and Dislocations
Shoulder pain is a common problem for many people, especially those who are active. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. The pain may be temporary or it may continue and require…
Read More » -
Arthritis (Shoulder)
Shoulder arthritis can make it difficult and painful to perform even the simplest daily tasks. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can destroy the shoulder joint and surrounding tissue. They can also cause degeneration and tearing of the capsule or the…
Read More »
Locations
The Curtis National Hand Center
Insurance
Insurance Plans Accepted-
AETNA
13
- AETNA — Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- AETNA — Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS) Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- AETNA — Aetna HMO Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- AETNA — Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA Innovation Health: POS Open HMO Opoen HMO Option Open EPO Plus
- AETNA — Aetna Managed Choice (POS) Innovation Health: POS Plus
- AETNA — Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS) Choice POS & Choice POS II Innovation Health: Open POS Plus Open POS II
- AETNA — Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- AETNA — Aetna Open Choice (PPO) Innovation Health: PPO
- AETNA — Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- AETNA — Aetna Student Health Insurance
- AETNA — Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO) Innovation Health: Indemnity
- AETNA — Aetna USAccess (POS)
- AETNA — Aetna Worker’s Compensation Network
-
CAREFIRST
8
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access BlueChoice Open Access Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO POS)
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CAREFIRST — CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO HealthyBlue PPO
-
CIGNA
6
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA EPO PPO and PPO Plus Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA) Network OA POS OA & OA Plus
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
-
COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK
4
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — First Health PPO
-
FIRST HEALTH
1
- FIRST HEALTH (NOW COVENTRY) — FIRST HEALTH
-
MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE
2
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice – Maryland Health Choice
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice-DC Healthy Families
-
MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE
1
- MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE — MedStar Medicare Choice
-
MEDSTAR SELECT
1
- MEDSTAR SELECT — MedStar Select
-
PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC.
1
- PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC. (PHCS) — Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
-
TRICARE
4
- TRICARE — Tricare Extra (Indemnity)
- TRICARE — Tricare Prime
- TRICARE — Tricare Standard
- TRICARE — Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
-
UNITED HEALTHCARE
12
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — OneNet PPO Inc.
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — Optimum Choice United Healthcare Navigate United Healthcare Compass (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Choice United Healthcare Core Essential (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO GEHA Compass Rose)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Select HMO – EPO/NPP
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Student Resources