Meet Hip And Knee Arthritis Surgeon Dr. Dane Hansen

Summit Orthopedics is pleased to welcome surgeon Dr. Dane Hansen. He uses his fellowship training in the treatment of knee and hip disorders to help arthritis patients of all ages maintain an active lifestyle.

Dr. Dane Hansen may have left Minnesota to pursue his medical studies and fellowship in hip and knee arthritis and joint replacement, but he’ll be the first to tell you that the Twin Cities are home. “I grew up playing sports here in Roseville, and played baseball while attending college at Bethel,” he smiles. “My wife grew up in Mahtomedi, and we are delighted to be back in Minnesota. I think that my straightforward approach to medicine reflects my personality. I take the time to educate my patients about their condition, so we can identify treatment options and decide together what needs to be done, and how I can help them through the process.”

Dr. Hansen’s practice is focused on hip and knee arthritis and joint replacement for patients ranging in age from teenagers to active grandparents. “When I started my training, I thought I would go into sports medicine,” he remembers. “But as a resident, I had a rotation in joint replacement that opened my eyes and broke down my own stereotype about arthritis as an old-age disease. In my residency, I saw how arthritis can affect active people in their 30s and 40s. I treated marathon runners, downhill skiers, and other dedicated athletes. This was not the patient population I expected to see with arthritis—and that piqued my interest.”

The challenge of treating arthritic conditions led Dr. Hansen to a fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction, where he learned minimally invasive surgical techniques to limit tissue and joint trauma, and gained extensive experience treating complex cases. “My fellowship was a great experience,” he explains. “To give people the best care, you want to offer a depth of expertise. My goal is always to treat patients conservatively with medication and other therapies before considering surgery. Some people can function adequately with arthritis for decades, and may not ever need surgery. For others, if they can’t ride their bike 50 miles a week, they want to know about surgical options that will help them stay on their bike. My job is to help patients understand all of their options so they can make choices that will get them back to the life they love.”

Education is at the center of Dr. Hansen’s approach to patient care. “Patients are intelligent and want to make their own decisions,” he says. “They want to find the doctor who will do the best job at making them feel comfortable. My job is not to convince people that they need surgery. My job is to educate my patients about their condition, so they understand what arthritis is, what the prognosis is, and what their options are.

“It all comes down to quality of life. Everyone has different lifestyle goals. No matter how old or young we are, all of us have something we are passionate about. Getting my patients to the point where they can do the things they love? That is what’s rewarding for me.”

When to seek treatment for your arthritis

Arthritis doesn’t have to spell the end of an active life. If you are experiencing worrisome symptoms or persistent pain, the renowned arthritis specialists at Summit Orthopedics can help. We work with you to confirm a diagnosis and develop an appropriate conservative treatment plan. If nonsurgical treatments fail to support your lifestyle goals, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons will consult with you and discuss appropriate surgical options. Summit is home to innovative joint replacement options. Our Vadnais Heights Surgery Center is one of only two surgery centers nationally to receive The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.

Start your journey to healthier joints. Find your arthritis expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.