Patient Testimonials

I received a hip replacement by Dr. Bircher and his team a few months after my husband died. I had been experiencing pain in my right hip, knee, and groin while giving care to my husband, but I didn’t realize my condition was strictly due to my hip. I was able to get prompt surgery after being expertly diagnosed by Dr. Bircher. I am 85 years old and live with my labradoodle, Roger. I was able to return home after a one-day hospital stay with the EXCEL program and was surprised how easily I was able to manage myself and Roger with only a few assists from my son.

I live on nine acres of land which was my husband’s outdoor kingdom. I didn’t think I would be able to maintain it and that I would have to move. However, I convalesced quickly and have no hip pain. I have been able to do much of the yard work and continue to live here with some outdoor help. I don’t think I would have been able to stay in our home and be this active again without such a good surgical outcome. I am very grateful for the opportunity I now have to continue living in my home for as long as possible. A big thank you to Dr. Bircher and his team!

I had dislocated my right hip 16 times and was warned by several emergency room doctors that I needed revision surgery to correct my hip. I decided to make an appointment to see Dr. Bircher, one of the many physicians at TCO Maple Grove. He assessed my hip and explained the process of hip replacement surgery which he recommended I have done. Leaving his office, I was a little nervous since I’m 78 years old and had bad luck with a prior surgery. However, after rolling over in bed, the dislocation happened again. I called Dr. Bircher and made an appointment for the surgery.

I had my procedure at North Memorial in Robbinsdale on April 15th. The entire staff was amazing from start to finish. Dr. Bircher’s team was fantastic! The next day I was discharged and walking. My new hip seemed to fit like a glove. I had no pain and was able to put full weight on my right leg. I sure did a lot of worrying for nothing. Now, I am four months post-op and still have no pain. I want to give a big thank you to Dr. Bircher and his team!

I was born with a defective hip. After 11 years spent trying to find answers, Dr. Larson figured it out three minutes. Because of his medical expertise, I enjoyed 16 pain-free years. In July 2025, my hip eventually needed a total replacement. I made 13 visits to the ER and saw three orthopedic surgeons outside of TCO. Every provider told me it was sciatic pain, but I knew from my experience before seeing Dr. Larson that that wasn’t the problem.

After all this, I found my way back to TCO and meet with Dr. O’Neill. He determined that my hip was bone on bone and was ready for a replacement. The hip replacement procedure was life changing! Four days after surgery, I lost my cane because I walked away from it. I walked up four stairs with ease before I noticed the cane was missing and I wasn’t using it. From diagnosis to restoration, Dr. Larson and Dr. O’Neill changed my life. I was frustrated and depressed with the care I received prior to finding them. They gave me hope and a future I can enjoy again. Dr. Larson and Dr. O’Neill will always be my first stop from now on.

Many thanks to Dr. Bircher for the successful hip replacement surgery, wonderful support, and exceptional care that he provided me. It’s so great to be able to walk again without pain and participate in all the things I enjoy doing!

Dr. Owen O’Neill performed my total left hip replacement, and for me, it truly was a life-changing experience!

My husband and I are amateur competitive ballroom dancers, and for years, I danced despite worsening hip pain. With the help of Advil and other anti-inflammatory medications, I managed to keep going until last September, when the pain became so excruciating that I could barely walk. I initially met with another orthopedic practice, where I was encouraged to have a cortisone injection. Knowing it would only postpone the inevitable need for a hip replacement, I decided to seek a second opinion. A friend who had experienced a difficult hip replacement gave me some advice I’ll never forget: “Find a surgeon who has performed thousands of hip replacements – not hundreds, but thousands.”

My search led me to Dr. Owen O’Neill, and I couldn’t be more grateful that it did. From the very beginning, Dr. O’Neill and his team provided a clear, well-structured program designed to deliver the best possible outcomes for his patients. I simply followed their instructions and their plan the way a good cook follows a trusted recipe. Today, just ten weeks after surgery, I’m feeling strong, pain-free, and ready to return to the dance floor.

Recovery wasn’t always easy. It takes patience, commitment, and time to heal. But every step of the journey has been worth it. I now have a new hip, a new outlook, and the freedom to enjoy the activities I love again. I am deeply grateful to Dr. O’Neill and his outstanding team for giving me my life back!

Thank you, TCO, for a life-changing hip replacement and exceptional care. After years of hip stiffness and pain from osteoarthritis, I had surgery with Dr. David Hartigan in August 2025 and started my rehab. Six months later, I saw major progress when transitioning between walking and completing two 5Ks in 2026. At 65 years old, I am stronger, faster and pain-free. I’m grateful for the professionalism, support, and outstanding results from the entire TCO team.

Dr. Vanden Berge did my mom’s hip replacement. She is 84 years old. He is a wonderful, compassionate doctor. He even called my mom several times to check in with her personally. I highly recommend Dr. Vanden Berge for hip surgery.

I had my right hip replaced by Dr. Dennis Vanden Berge in March 2026. The experience was better than I expected! Dr. Vanden Berge was extremely considerate and kind with every interaction. He went above and beyond any surgeon I have dealt with in the past. He was always available to answer questions and did not rush me out of appointments. I would absolutely recommend him to my friends and family.

I am so happy with the hip replacements I received by Dr. Owen O’Neill and his team. I can’t say enough good things about him and his whole team. I had my left hip done in August 2025 and my right hip done in April 2026. This minimally invasive Anterior approach was great. Dr. O’Neill has done over 4,000 of them so I felt at ease as I was preparing for the first surgery .

From the first phone call with Ann, his care coordinator, to the first visit with Dr. O’Neill then into surgery, I give them all an A+. The surgery itself was seamless and I loved the facility. I received my total hip replacements at the Orthopedic Institute at Two Twelve medical Center in Chaska. The anesthesia team and nurses were all excellent and super personable. I am a person who would much rather do physical therapy than have surgery as surgery makes me a little fearful. However, Dr. O’Neill is a pro, and the recovery was quite easy! I had pain for a few days afterwords but was fine with help from the pain meds.  After four to five days, I was only using acetaminophen and a stronger form of ibuprofen. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of having a hip replacement to look no further that Dr. Owen O’Neill.

Before I had my hips replaced, I was in pain whenever I would move – walking, getting in and out of the car, and any form of exercise. I also am a dancer by profession, and my hip pain made ballet very difficult as it was always painful. I can now walk without pain. I am almost eight weeks into recovery, and I will start to dance again very soon.

I need to also mention the excellence of Dr. O’Neill’s PA, Lauren Lisowski. She was great! Whenever I would call his team with a question after my surgery, Lauren would call back in such a timely way. She always respected my questions and would put my mind at ease. I tend to ask a lot of questions, and it was very helpful to have this service that Dr. O’Neill’s team provides.

Dr. Bircher is very nice and takes the time to listen. He did a great job on both my hip and knee replacements. I would recommend him to everyone.