Peter G. Fitzgibbons, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon — Hand & Upper Extremity
Recognition & awards
About
Patients facing a hand or upper extremity injury want two things: a surgeon with serious training, and someone who will actually slow down and explain what's happening. Dr. Peter Fitzgibbons offers both, which is part of why patients consistently describe him as giving them his undivided attention.
Dr. Fitzgibbons is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than 24 years of experience specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery. His academic training is exceptional even by the standards of this practice: he's a graduate of Harvard College and Brown Medical School through the Dartmouth/Brown MD program, completed his orthopedic residency at Brown University, and went on to complete both an orthopedic trauma fellowship and a hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Harvard. Few surgeons in the region bring that combination of trauma and hand subspecialty training to the same practice.
What he treats
Dr. Fitzgibbons cares for the full range of hand, wrist, and upper extremity conditions: carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tennis elbow, hand fractures, nerve compression, tendonitis, arthritis, and complex bone, tendon, and nerve injuries. As a board-certified specialist in both orthopedic surgery and surgery of the hand, he is equipped to diagnose and treat even the most complicated cases.
A philosophy built on access and understanding
Dr. Fitzgibbons dedicates real time to his patients: educating them on their condition, walking through every available treatment option, and making sure they understand enough to be genuinely involved in their own care. He remains available by phone or email for questions after office visits or surgery, because recovery doesn't stop when the appointment ends.
What patients experience
"I went in as a new patient for a thumb injury and saw Dr. Fitzgibbons. He was friendly and approachable. He took the time to explain my condition in detail, illustrating it by marking up an image of the x-ray. We explored treatment options, and I left knowing more and feeling reassured. Two additional perks I wasn't expecting were the ease of parking and a streamlined check-in process."
"I went to Dr. Fitzgibbons on the advice of my previous ortho practice, after their hand specialist left. He listened to my history, took x-rays, and discussed options with me. He was patient, knowledgeable, thorough, and very personable."
"Dr. Fitzgibbons was friendly and took his time to explain the symptoms of my pain and how the treatment would progress. I'm grateful for that. I'll strongly recommend him and the practice to others."
"Dr. Fitzgibbons explained everything thoroughly, spoke directly to my teen, and answered all of our questions. Wouldn't go anywhere else for a bone issue."
Dr. Fitzgibbons sees patients at our Bethesda and Germantown locations and is currently accepting new patients.
Training & qualifications
Education & training
- Undergraduate: Harvard University
- Medical School: Brown University Medical School — Doctor of Medicine
- Residency: Brown University — Orthopedic Surgery Residency
- Fellowship: Brown University — Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship
- Fellowship: Harvard University — Hand & Upper Extremity Fellowship
Fellowships
- Brown Medical School (Rhode Island Hospital) — Orthopedic Trauma
- Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School) — Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Board certifications
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- ABOS Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand (CAQ-H)
Professional affiliations
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
- American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS)
Hospital & surgical facilities
- Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital
- Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center
- Watkins Mill Ambulatory Surgery Center (Gaithersburg, MD)
- Watkins Mill Ambulatory Surgery Center
- Massachussetts Avenue Surgery Center
- Capital Orthopedic Surgery Center
Notable techniques
- Open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release
- Trigger finger release (in-office and operative)
- Thumb CMC (basal joint) arthroplasty
- Distal radius fracture fixation (open reduction internal fixation)
- Scaphoid fracture fixation
- Cubital tunnel decompression / ulnar nerve transposition
- Tendon repair and reconstruction (hand and forearm)
- Wrist arthroscopy
Patient reviews
Based on 679 verified patient reviews
“Dr. Fitzgibbons treated me for de Quervain’s with at first a brace and then a cortisone shot in a follow up visit. He patiently explained everything thoroughly and was very friendly and made me feel at ease. I highly recommend!”
“Dr. Fitzgibbons is a surgeon who does not push for surgery first thing without giving less invasive alternatives a try. He gave me a cortisone injection and told me to wait and see if that helped my hand. I like his cautious approach.”
“Dr. Fitzgibbons was friendly and very detailed in his explanations of my concerns. He spent much time explaining the situation and treatment options.”
“Dr Fitzgibbons was great - very nice, very down-to-earth & very quick to address & treat my issue. I highly recommend him.”
“Very professional”
“(Translated by Google) Excellent service and they have bilingual staff (Original) Excelente atención y cuentan con personal bilingue”
“Smart, great bedside manner, good communication skills. Treated me with respect.”
“I am a man in my 60's and recently had my 3rd appointment with Dr. Fitzgibbons for treatment of hand pain related to osteoarthritis around the base of my thumbs. I found his explanation of my condition and treatment options to be clear, concise and informative. I received cortisone injections in both hands at all three appointments and had good results in terms of little treatment discomfort and subsequent relief of pain for the following 2-3 months. At my last visit I asked about potential surgical remedies and again found his explanations informative and clear. Obviously my interactions with Dr. Fitzgibbons relate to one issue so I cannot speak to the breadth of his expertise but only share my experience. I've had office visits at both the Bethesda and Germantown office. They are quite busy practices and I experienced wait times from 10 mins to 40 mins. This seems to be commonplace in the medical world today and Dr. Fitzgibbons makes every effort during my visits to thoroughly and patiently hear all my questions and concerns without seeming rushed (even though I know he is extremely busy). He even has cracked a smile at one or two of my better attempts at humor. I hope this review is helpful. I would highly recommend him if you are seeking his area of medical expertise.”
“Amazing Service”
“From the front desk to Dr. Peter Fitzgibbons, Excellent Service!”