Patient Testimonials

I am very grateful to the person that recommended Dr. Bircher. He is a very kind, compassionate, and excellent orthopedic surgeon. What more can I say that has not already been said in all the other testimonials that I have read. My knee replacement journey went very well! During recovery, I used the ice and compression machine and the Rom Tech bike which was recommended by Dr. Bircher. I feel those devices had a big impact on my successful recovery. I have already recommended Dr. Bircher to a couple friends, and I will have him replace my other knee in the near future. Thank you to Dr. Bircher for his expertise!

I am 62 years old and have been dealing with knee pain for many years. I tore my ACL 38 years ago, and had three torn meniscus tears, bone on bone arthritis, and floating bone fragments in my left knee. I never had any surgeries to fix these issues in the past. After the last meniscus tears, and an MRI, I went in to see Dr. Saterbak. She was recommended to me from a few different people that I play Senior Softball with. When she reviewed my MRI, she told me, “Let’s not try to fix this one, let’s just give you a new knee”. Our first visit was great, as she shared what she was seeing and what the procedure would be like. I had all the confidence in the world in her. All the pre-surgery information was incredible! This included a 60-page document that covered pre-surgery, during surgery, and post-surgery information and recommendations. It was fantastic!

She recommended using the EXCEL program. What a great suggestion that was! Everything is all included in one program from pre-surgery, post-surgery, and physical therapy. The stay at the Omni Hotel was top notch! Better than any hospital stay could possibly be for recovery. The staff was fantastic. The accommodations were beautiful. Everything was just as I needed it to be.

Now let’s talk about how the procedure went and how my recovery has gone. The procedure was great, with little to no pain in my knee from day one. There was a lot of swelling and bruising as that was to be expected, but I think most of that came from the tourniquet used in the procedure. I already had a measured 90° bend and 0° straightness during the first night at the Omni with the TCO staff. I did a lot of walking that night too and everything felt great. I used a walker only that first night and then moved to a cane which only lasted for another couple days. The PT at TCO Vadnais Heights has gone great. Every trip to see them has had improved results and my expectations have been exceeded throughout the entire process. I am now at five weeks post-surgery, my PT is nearly done. My last measurement was 127° Bend and -3° and straightness.

Everything has gone better than I could have ever expected! Why did I wait so long to see someone? I would highly recommend Dr. Saterbak and her team if anyone is considering or needing a knee replacement. On a scale of one to ten, I would have to give them an eleven or higher. Thank you to TCO and Dr. Saterbak’s team for providing such outstanding medical service and care. This was as good of an experience as I could get!

Due to a car accident, I had to have knee replacements done on both knees. These were done with another healthcare provider outside of Twin Cities Orthopedics. The first was March 2023 and the second was November 2023. Six months after the November surgery, there was an issue and the replacement had to be redone. During this time Dr. Bircher kept me informed of what the procedure entailed and what the recovery time would be. He would always keep me informed and updated on any issues I had. My recovery has been complete and my knees feel great! I appreciate how Dr. Bircher took the time to explain everything that was going on and was always available to take calls and answer my questions. I would recommend Dr. Bircher to anyone with knee or hip issues.

I am an 87-year-old woman who visited Dr. Bircher about my very painful knee. I previously had several shots, but they didn’t relieve my pain until Dr. Bircher performed a knee replacement. The recovery was explained thoroughly so I knew what to expect. The healing process is going exactly as planned. Dr. Bircher was very patient and kind. I would recommend him to anybody in need of knee care.

On November 19, 2025, Dr. Lewis preformed a total knee replacement on my left knee. During the first night after surgery, I knew I had made the right choice, not only deciding to have the surgery, but also in having Dr. Lewis preform it. By the sixth week, I was feeling great and scheduled my right knee replacement for March 9, 2026. I could not be happier with the outcome. Thanks to Dr. Lewis’s skill, knowledge, and experience I am feeling better than I have in 20+ years. Thank you to Dr. Lewis and his team for giving me my mobility back.

I am thrilled with the outcome of my total knee replacement. I went in for my three-month checkup today and my knee replacement is perfect! Dr. Carlson did such a phenomenal job. Honestly, I forget that I have had a knee replacement because it feels so real. I can do everything that I did before the surgery. My job is cleaning houses, and I went back to work eight weeks after my surgery. In order to have a successful outcome, I had to be consistent and faithful in doing my exercises. I also went on short walks to keep this knee moving. In time, I will need to have my other knee done, and I will be having Dr. Carlson do that one too.

I started seeing Dr. Arntson in April 2023 for my right knee pain. I had meniscus repair surgery on my right knee in May 2023, and he told me that I would likely need my right knee replaced in the future due to arthritis. Since then, he ended up performing carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand in March 2024, and a total knee replacement on my left knee in November 2024. The left knee had become more painful than my right knee, so I got that one done first. Finally, he did a total knee replacement surgery on my right knee in February 2025.

I would highly recommend Dr. Arntson to anyone looking for an orthopedic surgeon. I was planning my surgeries around life events, like my daughter’s wedding, and would get cortisone shots in between. Dr. Arntson gave advice but understood that I needed to decide when it was best for me to have the surgeries. I trust and appreciate Dr. Arntson so much! He always took time to explain everything thoroughly, sometimes more than once. He has a good sense of humor which I appreciated very much.

Everything he said turned out to be true, even when I didn’t want it to be. For example, Dr. Arntson explained how long the recoveries for the different procedures would be. He told me that they would be long and I shouldn’t get discouraged. Of course, he was right. I am just over a year out from my second total knee replacement surgery. My overall quality of life and day to day living is much better because of Dr. Arntson and his wonderful team!

The Twin Cities Orthopedics staff was very pleasant and professional from start to finish. Dr. Lewis did a fabulous job, beginning with cortisone shots and continuing throughout the journey of having my knee replaced. Having Jordan as my physical therapist made my recovery so much better. She was very pleasant, always greeted me with a smile, and was easy to work with. I cannot say enough about the whole team, and I have already made three referrals to friends and family. Thanks again to the amazing team at TCO!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Bircher and his team. I had a total knee replacement in January 2026 and was feeling understandably nervous beforehand. Dr. Bircher immediately put me at ease with his kindness, confidence, and exceptional skill. His caring demeanor made such a difference, and the prayer he offered before surgery was something I truly appreciated. It brought me comfort and peace right when I needed it most

My care after surgery was just as impressive. The staff at EXCEL were exceptional! They were kind, attentive, and encouraging throughout my recovery. The team at Twin Cities Orthopedics were also wonderful and made every step of the process smooth and reassuring. I would highly recommend getting the Berg ice/compression machine as it was incredibly helpful during recovery and made a big difference in managing discomfort.

I also want to mention Jamie in Dr. Bircher’s office, who was amazing to work with. She was always helpful, answered my questions promptly, and went above and beyond with paperwork, especially navigating the new Minnesota paid leave process. I highly recommend Dr. Bircher to anyone considering knee replacement surgery. The level of compassion, professionalism, and support I received from Dr. Bircher and his entire team was outstanding!

Dr. Bircher has tremendous skill with robotic surgery. I had my right knee replaced seven years ago and my left knee in January 2026. I can’t believe how different the healing time has been! He is patient, kind, understanding, and encouraging. He offered a prayer before my surgery which helped put me at ease. I had physical therapy before and after my surgery which was very importance. Renting an ice machine for three weeks made a big difference in my recovery. I highly recommend Dr. Bircher and have already referred him to many of my friends.