Peter G. Fitzgibbons, MD
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: Hardvard 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 641 verified patient reviews
“Dr. Fitzgibbons took the time to listen to my concerns and provide his professional feedback. Fantastic doctor exclamation”
“Wonderful doctor with great knowledge and compassion”
“Excellent doctor, knowledgeable and treating patients with respect.”
“I cannot recommend Dr. Fitzgibbons and the CAO team enough. I went in for a fractured thumb and was feeling pretty anxious about the recovery, but his care was exceptional. He truly took his time during the appointment, never making me feel rushed. He was incredibly understanding, listened to all my concerns, and explained the treatment plan and X-rays in a way that made complete sense. If you are looking for a highly skilled hand specialist who actually listens and treats you like a person, this is the doctor to see.”
“Dr Peter is highly recommended, very knowledgeable and care about about his patients”
“Excellent service and interaction with the patient. I enjoyed seeing him.”
“Dr. Fitzgibbons is professional, knowledgeable, caring, always pleasant and positive, has an outstanding bedside manner with good sense of humor.”
“Fast, kind and informative!”
“Awesome doctor! Very knowledgeable with a super pleasant personality. Highly recommend!!!”
“Very informative encounter with Dr. Fitzgibbons, who did best what other patients had much appreciated while seeing him: he took the time to evaluate my fractured wrist, 6 month post surgery (done by another surgeon) and after 30 PT sessions. Dr. Fitzgibbons provided advice, explained what to expect now in the recovery process and answered very clearly my many questions, notably on my trauma triggered Dupuytren symptoms. Highly recommend Dr. Fitzgibbons!”