Click here to view Dr. Hoel’s TCO locations.

Click here to view locations where Dr. Hoel conducts surgeries.

We most often treat conditions of the knees, including knee arthroscopy and knee replacements. We also treat all shoulder problems and injuries and perform shoulder arthroscopies and shoulder rotator cuff repairs. Commonly performed hip surgeries include hip fractures and hip replacements. Our approach is a combination of both conservative and surgical treatments, which varies depending on each individual patient.

The EXCEL Orthopedic Surgery and Recovery Program is available to patients who generally healthy but have an orthopedic condition that requires surgery that is not typically done as an outpatient. The surgery is done in the Crosstown Surgery Center on the third floor of the Edina-Crosstown Clinic of Twin Cities Orthopedics. Post operatively patients are transported to a specially designed medical apartment a few blocks away, where there is nursing and medical staff available 24 hrs/day and 7 days a week.  Because the patient is never admitted to the hospital there is a substantial cost savings and a lower risk of hospital acquired infections. This option is particularly attractive for patients who are paying their own bills, employers who are self-insured, worker’s compensation and patients travelling to the U.S. for their medical care because the costs are less than half of what they are in the hospital.

If you are a new patient, please arrive to your appointment early in order to complete the registration process. In addition, please bring the following:

• Driver’s License or State ID
• Referral (if required by insurer)
• Insurance information
• Copies of operation records, medical records, x-rays, MRIs and CT scans from prior doctor visits
• List of current medications and any known allergies
• Imaging such as X-ray/MRI/CT on a disc
• Imaging reports such as MRI/CT/EMG
• Past op notes on neck or spine

Yes, absolutely. The more information we have regarding your unique situation and past history, the better equipped we are to provide the highest level of care. Bringing any previous x-rays, scans, and/or documentation (if available) is recommended. If you do not have this information, don’t worry; we will still take great care of you.

You can use the General Contact Form to get in touch with Dr. Hoel regarding second opinions or contact us via phone to set up an appointment or speak with a member of our care team.

You can get cortisone injections every 3 to 4 months as long as they continue to provide symptomatic relief.

Some patients get immediate relief from a cortisone injection. For others, it may take up to 2 weeks for the injection to take effect. However, most people notice relief within 2 to 3 days. The duration of a cortisone injection can vary greatly. Some will last as long as a year, whereas others may last only a few days. It is also important to know that occasionally pain can get worse following a cortisone injection before it gets better. In the meantime, over the counter pain medications and ice are recommended.

The Crosstown Surgery Center is a 21,000+ square foot facility located at Twin Cities Orthopedics Edina-Crosstown, offering patients a convenient, complete, and coordinated orthopedic care solution at one location. With six surgery suites, a procedure room, and several free amenities for families, the Crosstown Surgery Center is a premier orthopedic facility in Minnesota. To learn more, visit CrosstownSurgeryCenter.com.

• Microdiscectomies
• Minimally invasive lumbar fusions
• Cervical disc replacements and fusions
• Robotic-assisted sugery
• Scoliosis correction surgery

Though “laser spine surgery” has been advertised as the cutting-edge of spine surgery, in fact it has been shown to have no additional benefit when compared to Minimally Invasive Surgery that does not use lasers.  Laser spine surgery also theoretically increases the risk to nerves in the surgical area, due to heat that is generated.  Because Laser Spine Surgery has not been shown to give additional benefit beyond the Minimally Invasive techniques that I use, and carries with it additional risk, I do not perform surgery with lasers.   To view additional peer-reviewed reading, click here.

There are other new technologies within spine surgery which have been shown to be beneficial, and I therefore use those.  These technologies in general allow less invasive techniques, and incredibly precise placement of surgical instruments.  Examples of these technologies that I use are:

• Robotic-assisted surgery
• 3D Navigation/Stealth
• Tubular retractors
• Expandable interbody cages
• Physician directed neuromonitoring

In the setting of back and neck pain, both head and ice have been shown to have benefit in the setting of a new injury.  The peer-reviewed evidence has not found that one is better than the other, and I therefore recommend whichever seems to work better for the individual patient.

The initial visit is about fact-gathering, listening to your story, and learning more about you. I’ll then examine your concerns, review imaging if you have them, and begin to build a list of options for you. I want you to feel comfortable and relaxed, so I can understand how best to help you.

If you have records from another physician, provider, or hospital you may bring them with you to your appointment. If you do not have a copy, please contact the physician, provider, or hospital prior to your TCO appointment to let them know we will be requesting them.

Yes, of course. Feel free to have family members or friends join you in your consultation. Many patients find it is helpful to have support in the room, even just as an extra set of ears to remember the details of the visit.

After your appointment, or after surgery, you can expect prompt and accessible follow-up treatment. Care continues long after surgery and we want to be a part of your complete healing process. If you ever have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If an MRI scan or other diagnostic test was ordered, you need to make a follow-up appointment in office or virtually, via Zoom, to discuss the findings and plan next steps to help you recover.

If you have questions after your appointment, please feel free to contact us. You can call my Care Coordinator at 952-456-7423 or contact us using the General Contact Form.

The amount of time will vary depending on each unique patient, and each unique procedure. Please feel free to discuss this with us in your appointment, or contact us directly with any questions. You may call our clinic, or email us using the General Contact Form here.

The timeframe for recovery depends on the procedure and the individual, but it is our goal to get you back to your regular lifestyle as fast as possible. We will discuss your likely recovery time at your appointment.

Each individual will experience different pain levels, but it is our goal to have you feeling 100% as soon as possible. To get an idea of the pain expectations for your individual case, please discuss with Dr. Hoel at your appointment.

Please note that we strive to get our patients off narcotic pain medication as soon as possible. It can be needed shortly after surgery, but we do not advocate long-term use of pain medication. We take pain medication very seriously and make sure it is necessary before signing a prescription for any patient.