Patient Testimonials

Dr. Christopher LaPrade is the best orthopedic surgeon! He is kind, caring, and patient. I will have him do my knee surgery when it is time. I highly recommend him to all my family and friends.

I want to thank Dr. Bjerke and his team for being amazing partners on my knee journey. Having an active role in my healthcare is important to me and Dr. Bjerke respected that the entire time he spent listening, explaining, and patiently answering my questions before and after surgery. I have been pleasantly surprised by how low my level of pain has been and how quickly I was able to get moving. That is attributed largely to the skill of Dr. Bjerke as a surgeon. I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of orthopedic case.

I was a patient of Dr. Knowlan during my knee replacement surgery. Dr. Knowlan did an incredible job. I must also mention, my nurses Angela B, Brenna P, Delaney, and Emily. They went way out of their way to accommodate my disability, macular degeneration. I will never forget their kindness and caring nature. They made the knee surgery a pleasant experience. Also, both physical therapists were wonderful as well. Thank you!

I am a huge fan of Dr. James Bircher. I had a total knee replacement on January 14, 2026. Pain aside, which is part of the deal, he set me up for a great recovery. The ROMTech cycle and NICE machine helped, and of course the physical therapy sessions. However, it is Dr. Bircher who made the difference with his brilliance, skill, and altogether lovely demeanor. He even called me once during pre-surgery to explain something which isn’t always typical for a doctor to do. He is exceptional!

I am now eleven weeks out from surgery and my ability to bend my knee is great. My straightening still needs a bit of work. Dr. Bircher has advised me to keep at the PT for continued results, even though he is quite happy with my present status. I ditched the walker after a week and the cane a week later. I was back to using a recumbent bicycle only a few weeks out of surgery. I could not recommend a doctor more highly. I will be booking Dr. Bircher for my other leg, whenever that will be!

Dr. Mittelsteadt and his team are amazing! He replaced both of my knees and preformed two trigger finger surgeries for me. With my last knee surgery, I was surprised at how fast I recovered from the procedure. It’s a tough recovery, but within two months I was back to doing most of the things I did before surgery. The entire team including Annie Drabot, the anesthesiologist, and nurses are extremely knowledgeable and took the time to listen to me. I received the best care and would highly recommend Dr. Mittelsteadt.

I broke the plastic piece of a 16-year-old total knee replacement. After doing some research, I went to see Dr. James Bircher who was local and available. We hit it off immediately and it didn’t take him long to diagnose my problem. I went into the surgery very confident that all would go well. The entire procedure and recovery exceeded my expectations. A big thank you to Dr. Bircher. I’m so glad we crossed paths!

During my freshman year golf season, I dislocated my left knee while swinging on the range. Once healed, I experienced major knee discomfort and constant pain. I made the decision to get knee surgery in November 2025 during my junior year. I am now 20-weeks post-operation and having the procedure done was one of the best decisions I have made! Dr. Schmiesing and the physical therapists at TCO have been nothing shy of amazing.

I am 69 years old and had a wonderful experience with my knee replacement performed by Dr. Bircher. He took time answering my questions and his team gave me a lot of information throughout the procedure journey. Their communication truly helped reduce the stress of having a major surgery. I loved that he took the time to talk with me and I never felt rushed. I was able to walk immediately after surgery and now I am four months post-operation. I am doing very well thanks to him and his team. If you are needing a knee surgery, Dr. Bircher should be your doctor!

In 2021 and 2022, I had my left and right knee replacements done with Dr. Eric Busse. He is wonderful! He used robotics for a quad sparing technique replacement. I have had no complications since he has the best surgical skill and outcomes. I have sent family members and friends to him, and their outcomes have been excellent as well. I am a Registered Nurse, so I was very picky about who I wanted as my orthopedic surgeon. I can honestly say I picked the best! Thank you to Dr. Busse and his team!

I recently celebrated the first anniversary of my second knee replacement, which was performed in March 2025 by Dr. Scott Anseth and his outstanding team. I had my first knee replacement in 2019 and experienced the same excellent outcome. I was playing tennis at six months, with full, unrestricted play by eight months. I am currently playing three to four times a week.

I have been in the medical device industry for over thirty years and have worked alongside thousands of highly qualified, professional, and caring physicians who consistently deliver quality results. Without a doubt, Dr. Anseth, Heidi Bolgren, PA-C, and the surgical team at Twin Cities Orthopedics are among the very best. I am grateful for their outstanding patient-centric care!

As an aside, the second surgery was performed at the TCO Chaska same day surgery center. What a phenomenal experience! From check-in to discharge, the entire staff was exceptional. Thank you to all!