After being told by another doctor that waiting for a knee replacement was my only option at 31 years old, I went to see Dr. Cole and his team. After meeting with him and reviewing my scans and information, he said I was a candidate for an osteochondral allograft and meniscal allograft transplant. He took into consideration my questions and thoughts and gave me options rather than just telling me what to do. His and his team's knowledge and care for patients definitely show in his practice. Throughout the appointments, surgery, and follow ups I always felt I had the support and knowledge I needed for my treatment to be successful and it has been! Dr. Cole and his team have given me my active lifestyle back and I am grateful for that! read more

Dr Cole is the best orthopedic surgeon ever. He repaired my meniscus tear back in 2022 and in just a few months I was able to regain full mobility of my knee. I've been snowboarding and skating as much as I used to like if I never had a knee surgery. But the most important thing is that he's the most knowledgeable Orthopedist I've ever met in my life. I had a problem with my knee locking since I was kid and I went through so many Orthopedist. Not a single doctor was able to tell what was going on and after chatting with Dr. Cole for just a few minutes he gave me that diagnosis that changed my life. Now I know exactly what happened all those times I was clueless and now I can be prepared to protect my knee from certain movements and understand why it hurts sometimes. I am so happy that I choose Dr. Cole for my surgery and as my orthopedic doctor. My surgery went so perfect. I recommend a call for anyone with a knee problem. Another reason why I am so happy I chose him is his Bedside manners. The first time I met him he listened to me very carefully and he reassured me that he was going to help me and cure me. An indeed he did. Dr Cole is was blessing for me, and at all times I felt so comfortable and taken care of by him. He's the absolute best. Also his entire team of Orthopedists and assistants and nurses were amazing. They responded to my thousands of questions very respect respectfully and clearly. They were always there to help me with anything I needed. Answering mails day and night. Give me useful information and checking on me after the surgery. Thank you, Dr. Cole and team for being the best orthopedic surgeon I ever had. read more

Approximately 3 years ago, I went to Dr. Cole, complaining about hip and knee pain. They only x-rayed my knee and that is the only issue he addressed. I told him that my hip also hurt and he advised me to see another doctor for that problem. I thought this doctor was a good orthopaedic doctor. I ended up going to another orthopaedic doctor who diagnosed me with severe osteoarthritis of the hip. I would not recommend him. read more

Doctor Cole. I did see him today in the office 3 hours late . When he came he was with his helper. They both were asking question in the same time. This whole visit was maybe 5 minutes . In the same time He answered his phone 2 times having conversation with somebody when he was trying to examine my shoulder . I couldn't believe this . Very arrogant and unprofessional read more

Dr. Cole repaired my shoulder in '08. After suffering for a year I would up in Dr. Cole's airport terminal waiting room. You will wait an hour past your appointment time. Understand this is a big time Ortho surgeon, Noah's hand, Bush's knee. People come from everywhere to have the good Doc work on them. I personally have recommended him to friends and family. His PA Kyle is excellent as well. If You have a joint problem this is your guy. Thanks Dr.Cole read more

About a month ago now I underwent surgery on my MPFL to fix a complete tear with a cadaver ligament. I'm not new to knee injuries and I know how important PT is, I followed my directs just as told, I go to PT everyday, and I am moving around. However, I still have next to 0 bend, I cannot activate my quad, and I still have intense pain and swelling. Despite emailing his team multiple times about my issue we have still not received a reply which is unacceptable if were being honest. Brian Cole does not care about his normal patients, only those he deems "important". It should also be noted that prior to my surgery Cole did no exam, no bend test, and didn't even ask how I was doing with my rehab. Along with that, I was told I would be going under for my surgery no later than 8:30 (scheduled for 8) and I didn't get taken back until 10. A waste of my time and pointless overall. I am a two sport varsitey and national level athlete and I am now unable to play, drive and even walk due to Brian Cole and his lack of care for my recovery. Do NOT trust Brian Cole with your knee, he's gotten sloppy and needs to just retire before he ruins more people's mobility. read more

If I could give Dr. Brian Cole negative stars, I would. I flew from Seattle to Chicago hoping he could help with ongoing pain and instability in my left knee from a botched ACL reconstruction done by a different surgeon, as well as a an ACL tear in my right knee. Instead, I was met with incompetence. Dr. Cole entered the room, asked for a brief history, and then left with his PA to "review" my images elsewhere--rather than discussing them with me directly. When he returned, he quickly told me he had no solution and couldn't help me. He didn't offer any next steps or referrals and failed to address my concerns. Furthermore, I was shocked at the lack of thoroughness in his examination. Ultimately, I left with no answers, no options, and felt completely dismissed. This appointment was a total waste of my time and money. Dr. Cole's reputation did not match the subpar experience I had with him. read more

Terrible. Doesn't know what a torn meniscus looks like. Keeps on moving around to different places and many of his reviews look suspicious. Office staff at other locations was rude and condescending read more

I am writing this review to share my experience related to my Total Shoulder Replacement (TSR) surgery performed by Dr. Brian Cole. I had originally had my right TSR scheduled to be performed another orthopaedic surgeon, but then I came across a U.S. News article about the 25 best orthopaedic surgeons in the United States. Dr. Cole was on this list for shoulder replacements. It also mentioned that he was the Team Doctor for Professional sport teams (i.e. Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox). This article was just the first thing to give me confidence that I should switch from my already scheduled surgeon to Dr. Cole. I then scheduled an initial appointment with Dr. Cole for a second opinion. What I learned from this visit solidified my decision to switch to Dr. Cole for my shoulder surgery. Dr. Cole and his physician's assistant spent 45 minutes with me in this initial consultation. This is a long amount of time by medical visit standards. This consultation took this long because I had a litany of questions about the procedure that I had researched since previously scheduling with another surgeon. Dr. Cole answered every single one of my questions thoroughly without ever giving me the feeling like he was in a hurry or like I was being rushed. And even when I said "Do you have time for more questions, I don't want to hinder other appointments", Dr. Cole said "No problem at all. I'm here to answer all your questions." Excellent bedside manner. Another thing that I learned at this appointment was that the surgery would be performed there (in their Surgical Center). Prior to this time, I never heard of a surgical center. But it was explained to me how surgical centers are generally cleaner than hospitals, don't come with the increased cost of hospitals, and have less incidents of post-operative infection than hospitals. When I shared with my primary care doctor (who is from a different health provider network) that I was switching surgeons, and I mentioned Dr. Cole's name, my primary care surgeon even said "You may as well go with the best." My outpatient surgery was competed by Dr. Cole without a hiccup. I began Therapy at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH two weeks later, and by four months post-op I was basically back (pain free and exceedingly better than I was pre-op). The PT staff was phenomenal, and I want to recognize physical therapist Derek Jones for his knowledge, skill, and care to successfully direct my PT recovery. I would highly recommend Dr. Cole and Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH for any Orthopaedics needs. read more

Let me start this message by saying Dr Brian Cole was recommended by three other orthopedic surgeons. He is rated one of the best in the nation for cartilage restoration. I can thoroughly say that I am disappointed in him and his office . I was injured in March of 2023. I was a deputy that was injured in the line of duty and already received one surgery. I was then fired because I could not do my job anymore. The county stopped all pay and benefits and the workmans comp insurance denied everything. The first surgery was not enough and these three separate independent orthopedic surgeons agreed and recommended a cartilage graph/restoration. All three recommended Dr. Cole I tried on multiple occasions to schedule an appointment with his office and was met with no understanding or sympathy. I called multiple times to get a straight answer. Finally after multiple calls and inquiring I only got a straight answer out of them when I told them I had a lawyer. Their answer was that they would not see me because my workmans comp case is under litigation. They would not even see me with my own insurance. They kept saying it was "policy". What policy restricts medical care to anyone? Isn't it an ethical question to be asking why would you do this? I am severely disappointed in my treatment and what it went through to get an answer. I should never have to bring up a lawyer to get an answer. Even after explaining that I was a peace officer and was hurt in the line of duty, I was shrugged off like a peddler on the street. I am just trying to get my life back, and not spend it looking out a window. If this is how they treat anyone that is in a fight to get their life back, anyone in uniform, or just in general, is disappointing. The workmans comp litigation can take 2 years. I am not waiting 2 years to get my life back. Being denied medical treatment and the poor treatment by staff is just not right. read more

Dr. Cole operated on me 4-5 years ago when I had a complete tear of my right ACL. He operated on me in May and I was back on the ski slopes (where my original injury took place) in December. This past Sunday, I had another ski injury: Tibia Plateau Fracture #1 (right knee again). I was in Vail, and they highly suggested I operate the same day as my injury, so it wasn't possible for me to fly back to Chicago to have Dr. Cole do the operation. However, my surgeon was stunned that all my ligaments remained in tact. He told me the only reason why I didn't experience more trauma to my knee with this accident is mostly due to the impeccable work Dr. Cole's performed on me the first time around. Words cannot express the gratitude I have to Dr. Cole and his team. I feel incredibly blessed to have been under his care. Not only is he a fantastic surgeon, he's also a wonderful person to work with. read more

I hope you never need an orthopedic surgeon but if you do-Dr. Cole is really a specialist where specialists count. His specializes in shoulders, knees and elbows and has several special procedures that he does most of which are arthroscopic. He did his residency at Cornell and is one of the leading orthopedics in Chicago. He actually practices out of Rush but rather than start a new review I thought I would add on to this one as there are several offices where you can visit him. The main office number is 312-243-4244. I have a knee situation. I injured it over 20 years ago and then re injured it about a month ago. The first doc I went to out my way (translate that to the "burbs")suggested surgery right away. Not one to make hasty decisions, I spent the afternoon in the city today getting a second opinion and I am glad that I did. Midwest Orthopedics, of which Dr. Cole is a part of, has an office in River City (Wells and 8th St). It is a little unusual as it sits in the basement of the condos- but there is plenty of parking and easy access. When you call for your appointment- they suggest that you go to their website (www.cartilagedoc.org) and fill out all the necessary paperwork before coming in. So glad that I did that- the knee form alone is at least 7 pages long! Once you get to the office- it is efficiently run and they move the people through quickly. The doctor was running behind today and I was early so I did have to wait a little bit, but there was such a cast of characters in the waiting room to watch, that the time flew by. I love organization and this place runs like the military. You go to one person who handles all the scheduling, one who is in charge of physical therapy and one who is in charge of the money. Everything is well explained and care is given to both young and old who need a little extra help. Unfortunately for me, this second opinion concurred with the first so I am scheduled for surgery but there is good news. Dr Cole is all about "treating the patient and not the MRI" so he did come up with an alternative plan to see if that works before going the surgical route. I am so willing to try anything else!! My final observation? Dr. Cole is just an all around nice guy. He explains things and wants you to feel good about his diagnosis. We actually discovered through the course of conversation that we have mutual acquaintances (hmm . . .maybe I'll call them up and see what they say about the talented Dr. Cole) Hopefully you'll never need Dr. Cole- but it's nice to know he's there if you ever do. read more

Quick but efficient and offered a solution for my problem. Quickly suggested a particular procedure for my longtime elbow pain and it was done that day by one of his physicians assistant. read more

Dear Dr. Cole I am writing this letter to you today, which is well overdue, about an individual on your Rush Team that Dr. Kathy Weber had recommended. As you know from my family background in sports and the numerous injuries and surgeries my family has incurred over the years. You and all the other doctors my children have seen have done what I would call miracles in the surgery rooms and the office with your precise diagnosis. I am so fortunate and blessed to have met you and your team members. As you perform the miracles in the surgery room, there is an individual; I would like to bring to your attention the miracles he has performed on my two boys after their injuries and surgeries. His name is David Heidloff from Sports Performance at Midwest Orthpaedics Bensenville location. As my boys went to him this past summer, Christopher with his hamstring and Cristian with his ankle, I was amazed at their recovery and improvement rate. His ability to bridge the gap for an athlete finishing rehab and bringing the athlete to the required performance level is simply second to none. His facility, located in Bensenville, in the Bo Jackson dome, is state of the art. The space in the facility is state-of-the-art, from portable equipment to stationary equipment. But the best part is what David has in his heart. He desires to get the athlete back to the sport and back to sport at a higher level of performance before the injury. I found my boys wanting to see David. To put their bodies through his difficult and sometimes grueling workouts, which they were willing to do. The reason is that they could see and feel themselves getting better and stronger. Also, because of the respect that was developing in my boys for him, I found my boys want to not only get better for themselves but for him. I have found that David knows his stuff, he knows athletes, and he can communicate very well with the athletes. He is very professional in every way. I am so thankful my family found him because he is the best my children have ever been to. Thank you for introducing my family to David Heidloff. Professionally Richard Carstens read more

Dr Cole and his staff at the Munster, IN center were fantastic. I was extremely anxious about my procedure but they were so friendly and kept me calm. In the end, the whole experience turned out to be virtually painless and my anxiety was for nothing. I had right shoulder surgery and although I'm in some post op pain now, they thought of everything and made sure my meds were ready beforehand. They've called me the last two days in a row to do follow ups as well. Thank you Dr. Cole. read more

I met Dr. Cole in 2011 when every other knee Dr. I talked to told me I needed surgery. Dr. Cole recommended Physical Therapy and I played softball for 10 more years on the basis of that advice. Last year, in 2021, when the knee was bad again, he advised a cortisone shot and I played the rest of the season pain free. This year, when pain reappeared and a 2nd cortisone shot did not work, his excellent PA, Kyle Pils, told me that Dr. Cole had been trying oral steroids in combination with PT. It took a few weeks but I was back running full speed. I'm 65 years old still playing all out softball, thanks in large part to Dr. Cole and his staff. Mike C. read more

I have nothing but high praise for Dr. Brian Cole and his excellent team. From my initial meeting, to the treatment plan to post op follow-up they showed the utmost, knowledge, professionalism and compassion for me and my health. I feel stronger and healthier since my procedure and could not be more excited to get back to living an active life! read more

Dr. Cole replaced my right shoulder and did a fabulous job. I would say that I am 100% two years out and have been this way for more than a year. My scar is hardly noticeable. He is a true professional. He listened to all my questions and left me without a worry. His staff is second to none! Even though he is a very busy surgeon and I had to schedule my surgery 10 weeks out, he treats you like you are his only patient. Thank you so much! read more

I Rated Dr Cole as a 5 start under WEB MD. I was reading the prior patient reviews and noted one patient that rated him with one star citing Dr Cole did not show up for appts or even stop in after the procedure. ASs a result I wanted to say that I never had an issue meeting Dr Cole for initial exam, day of surgery, next morning in hospital and on post surgery exam and release. Great DR with excellent staff and bedside manner. read more

Dr. Cole is the absolute best! He completely fixed my knee and I (for the first time in years) can workout and run pain free. Having this big of a surgery at 25 was scary, to say the least. But Dr. Cole and his team made made me feel so at ease throughout the whole process. I had questions while recovering and could call or text the on call doctor and they'd answer immediately. Although I hope I don't have to get knee surgery again, if I do I will without a doubt come back to Dr. Cole and his team! read more

Dr. Cole is the BEST orthopedic dr. He has a practice at Rush, as well as at River City: Midwest orthopedics at Rush. I came in with a separated shoulder for a second opinion. The first dr I saw in the suburbs was a hillbilly, and he didnt want to fix it. Not only was Dr. Coles' staff and office perfectly professional, Dr. Cole put me back together perfect. I am so happy. The staff was always available for questions before and after surgery. Surgery was done at Rush on an outpatient basis and so easy. The rest of the drs at the practice I hear are the best there is around in Chicago. Good luck and call Dr. Cole if you need your shoulder , elbow or knee looked at. Kyle is his assistant and really really good. read more

Dr. Cole and his staff, especially Kaily, PA and Anna Piotrwiscz , physical therapist, took very good care of me. I had struggled with severe shoulder pain and sleep problems for 6 years. They diagnosed me with a complete rotator cuff tear and needing a bicep subduction. I am a 58 y.o. Union Carpenter and amateur athlete. I am done with therapy now, full range of motion and happily lifting weights, to rebuild muscle mass. I was going to retire, but now may postpone that. Looking forward to paddling and swimming again. Thanks so much, I feel like a new man. D Peterson read more

I am a 57 yo male that went to see Dr Cole after my Rotator Cuff tear was not properly diagnosed by a previous doctor. I had been suffering the effects of the injury for more than a year, and was unable to lift anything with my affected arm or raise that arm more than 90 degrees. Dr Cole's staff evaluated me quickly and indicated that I was an excellent candidate for surgery to repair the tear. I scheduled the surgery for Sept 5th at Rush. Surgery went as expected and I elected to also received a stem cell injection to assist with recovery. I was sent home with an ice machine that greatly assisted in keeping the swelling down and providing comfort. Dr Cole's team has an auto-texting program that you can opt into, and I fully recommend it. The messages are tailored to your surgery timeline and recovery and provide valuable information. The staff is also extremely responsive to any phone calls or e-mails if you have specific concerns. I also received a call directly from Dr. Cole the day after surgery to check on me. He also provides a ton of information on his website, which is so valuable when you are sitting around post surgery wondering if you have a problem. The most difficult part for me after surgery was not being able to sleep very well. I tried just about everything, but it seems that at night, the soreness in my shoulder was at it's worst. It was not a sharp or severe pain, it was more of an aching that intensified while laying down. The team is very up front about the time-frame for rehab and explained that I would be fairly functional in 3-4 months, but it would take about 7 months to be fully recovered. Been going to PT 3x per week and doing exercises at home, since a week after surgery. Have regained about 75-80% of my range of motion, which allows me to be functional throughout the day, but still have a ways to go on regaining strength. As info - Dr Cole and his team provide very detailed and specific instructions to the PT staff regarding the rehab schedule, which allows you to easily track your progress against the norm. Had my last appointment with Dr Cole yesterday and he indicated that at 16 week post surgery, my activities are unrestricted. A huge shout out to Dr Cole and his team of PA's - I am very satisfied with the all aspects of my surgery - from office visits, the actual surgery, the post surgery follow up and communication, and the rehab schedule. I would highly recommend Dr Cole! read more

I have had arthroscopic knee surgeries on both knees performed by Dr. Cole in the last 5 years and they have both turned out great. Pain is totally gone and knees are functionally like normal. Both were meniscectomies. In my last surgery, I was up bearing my weight when I left recovery. (They gave me crutches to get home - what a waste. ) I only took the heavy-duty pain pills once on the first day and was off the ibuprofen in 3 days. I was working out and riding a bike in 1 week and using an elliptical within two weeks. It's been 8 weeks since my last surgery and my knee is fully functional. (I can't quite touch my ankle to my butt yet, but I am really close. ) I compare my results to a guy I play racquet-ball with. We had the surgeries within a few days of each other performed by different Drs. and he has had more pain and a slower recovery. I should mention I am also part of a stem cell injection study. The idea is that the stem cell injection accelerates the healing process. It's a blind study so I don't know whether or not I received the injection. Regardless, the recovery for my surgery 5 years ago was just as successful. I am a 62 year old male; 6 feet tall, 200 lbs. and I have work out regularly my entire life. I have met with Dr. Cole 4 times during the latest surgery. Once for initial consultation - (after the Sports Medicine Dr. told me Surgery was probably my best option because the knee injections were not working for me.) A second time in the morning before surgery, and then later that day in Recovery. The last time was at my 8 week check up. He has been very knowledgeable and takes the time to make sure I understand his answers to my questions. The staff from the PAs, RNs, reception staff have been great and the processes are very efficient. They also have an amazing on-line support system that facilitates the entire process and provides a great communication link between you and all the staff at Rush. read more

Dr. Cole is amazing! My 90 year old grandfather had both of his shoulders replaced within a 3 month period. His quality of life improved tremendously because thanks to the help of Dr. Cole, he is pain free! We talked to many doctors over the years and Dr. Cole was the only one confident enough to tell my grandfather he would help him to be pain free soon and he was right! The entire staff was incredibly helpful and very responsive. We are so grateful to Dr. Cole for helping my grandfather to have a happier and pain free life now! read more

I had a reverse shoulder replacement last August and Dr Cole said I would experience minimal pain and discomfort plus get the use of my arm back, Now at 4 months out, following his prescribed rehab program, I can tell you he knows what he says he can do is true! I have approximately 60% of my ROM and strength and am continuing to improve. Dr Cole encouraged me to do it after I was told by the 1st surgeon I consulted to just "learn to live with it" as he said at my age (73) I wouldn't want to go through such a terribly difficult procedure. Dr Cole said "well that's B S!". Thank you Dr Cole for being who you are and doing what you do---a true professional in the highest sense of that concept. read more

What ever you do, do not see this doctor or anyone else in this staff, they treat you like an animal, they keep you waiting in the lobby up to 2 hours, they over book by about 20 people, every time you go, no communication between my therapist and doctor. On my final visit, Doc Brian Cole told me he had know idea what was wrong with my knee, did not perform an MRI, just told me I need do go see an IMA... he didn't want to admit he didn't do a good job, so he pushed me off on another doc, his reputation is all he cares about. Not you. Don't believe me, just ask Derick Rose.... read more

It seems like Dr Cole is a great surgeon. But I was not impressed with him as a physician. I went to his practice in river city and it was packed. I waited about 45 minutes and finally got in. An assistant took my information, he was very nice. Then the dr came for about 60 seconds. I told him that I had read on the internet some stuff about my calf injury and believed that I had an idea of the diagnose. He said that most of the stuff in the internet was wrong and proceeded to his diagnose. Which comically was exactly the same one I had read in the internet. Then, without any explanations of what the injury was exactly or what needed to happen internally to be healed, he prescribed PT treatment and left. I felt if I went all the way to his office and pay a large amount of money for the visit, I deserved a litle bit more than a minute with him. And maybe some simple explanations on the issue. Anyway, I was very unimpressed with his visit. I hope he is better as a surgeon, or at least takes a little bit more time with the patients. read more

I had a great experience with Dr. Cole and his team. He repaired my fractured clavicle caused by a cycling accident. The entire process, from intake through my last follow up, was efficient and easier than anticipated. I would definitely recommend. read more

After several years of living with chronic shoulder pain stemming from a diagnoses of arthritis in my shoulder and receiving countless cortisone shots that provided little if any relief, I was referred to Dr. Cole for a second opinion. The minute I walked into his office I knew I was in the right place. Dr. Cole and his team were extremely professional and compassionate during my consultation and provided me with several plans of attack in dealing with my shoulder pain. Dr. Cole was genuinely engaged and didn't treat me like another statistic. After weighing all options we decided on reverse total shoulder replacement surgery. The professionalism and compassion continued up to and throughout the surgery process. Several weeks into recovery and I am virtually pain free. To say Dr. Cole changed my life is an understament. Best decision I've made regarding my well being. Dr. Cole is a rock star. read more

I'm sure you've already seen his accreditations elsewhere if you're looking for a ortho surgeon. Dr. Cole is an absolute rock star. I had ACL (patella) replacement two weeks ago. I walked out without crutches and never used them. Three other people on my team have undergone similar operations this year without such successful results. Very happy I did my research for my doc. Only gripe I have is that Midwest Ortho is a monstrous machine. There is some lag time between appts and takes some time to get to the right people but it runs as smoothly as something so large can. read more

I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Cole (his Rush Hospital location) after a friend who studied under him recommended his work. My condition is a bump on the front of my knee, below the kneecap, that has gotten worse with recent triathlon training. I tried to be prepared for the appointment by getting my notes organized, and was very pleased to find his office and staff just as well-prepared. From check-in to x-ray to height/weight/blood pressure, they worked like a well-oiled machine! Dr. Cole's review of my x-rays and explanation of my knee issue were crisp and understandable. He related to my situation (that I didn't want to have to quit training) and respected my preference for non-surgical options (physical therapy, prescription). His assistants, Jessica and Natalie, answered all my questions and made the experience very comfortable. I was truly impressed with my appointment and highly recommend him to other amateur athletes...you'll be in good hands with Dr Cole. Check him out at http://www.cartilagedoc.org/home.cfm read more

Dr Brian Cole is one of the best in Chicago. I injured my knee and had to get ACL reconstruction done. My PT said she usually tells her friends in NYC to come to Chicago to get knee surgery from Dr. Cole. Midwest Orthopedics runs really efficiently. Dr Cole's assistants, Natalie and Kyle are really helpful and are very prompt with post surgery follow up. They're hard to reach on phone but they walk around with their blackberry's and reply to emails within 30 mins. I highly recommend Dr Cole and Midwest Orthopedics at Rush for knee surgery. The only downside is that it's a little hard to get an appointment for the first time. I had to wait about a month and a half for an appointment. read more

As a former college athlete with substantial and ongoing shoulder problems, I've seen my fair share of orthopedic surgeons. I flew to Chicago specifically to see Dr. Cole due to his good reviews and what I thought was knowledge of the latest techniques, minimally invasive treatment, etc. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the visit and would not recommend. He actually chastised me for seeing multiple physicians. I've been offered differing treatment courses from the best surgeons in the country and was trying to gather as much information as I could prior to making any decisions. His bedside manner was lacking and he did not bother to perform a physical exam or really listen to my history. The way we treat those around us is good insight into one's character and I'm disappointed to report that Dr. Cole was rude to his PA, when unable to manage something out of her control. Critically, he did not provide a clear diagnosis or treatment plan. I would seek guidance elsewhere. read more

Dr. Cole operated on a family member and I also saw him for very advanced knee osteoarthritis (at a young age). I believe his skill as a surgeon is impeccable - and his PAs are incredibly hard-working and responsive - but his ego can be off-putting. He became puzzlingly defensive over a benign question about my loved one's recovery (we weren't implying the recovery wasn't going well; we were just asking if certain symptoms were normal). Also, he acts quite impatient with me as a patient in general, like I am the most worthless, waste-of-time patient ever. The trade-off is his surgical skill, which to me is worth dealing with the ginormous ego. read more

Incredible staff. Great decision-maker. Dr Cole takes the decision to do surgery very seriously, which is rare these days. There is no more ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE office in the orthopedics. read more

I found Dr Cole on Yelp. I needed help for my right knee and saw him yesterday 8/9/12 and was very pleased. He did not try to push surgery or knee replacement, but said that all I needed was physical therapy. If you want an honest professional opinion, Dr Cole is your man. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

I was late. From the time I parked at the Rush Univ. Harrison St. office, checked in, got an x-ray, saw Dr. Cole, checked out and returned to my car, 60 minutes passed. Again, I was late - I expected a wait to be seen - I was seen immediately...by everyone involved in my visit. He was in the exam room within 60 seconds of my placement there. He asked how I injured my shoulder and he's one of the few people on earth who didn't laugh when I told him "playing foosball" (he smiled, but didn't laugh - yes, it matters!). He said I'm the first foosball injury case he's ever had...coming from the guy who's the team doctor for the Bulls and who is obviously in very high demand, I'm pretty jazzed that I got to throw him a bit of a curve ball. Very personable man, incredibly efficient office, friendly, albeit very busy staff and overall highly impressed with both Dr. Cole and all who contributed toward making my visit quick and pleasant. Now scheduled for an MRI...he requested I make the appointment for the MRI and a follow up visit with him on the same day so that I wouldn't be wasting my time making two trips. How awesome is that? if I need surgery to repair my rotator cuff, I can honestly say that after today, I can't think of a doctor I would rather have overseeing my care than Dr. Cole. I have very little use for most doctors; I've kissed a lot of frogs, so to speak - Dr. Cole is one who turned out to be a prince. Bravo; great practice run by a group of specialists who "get it" as it relates to respecting their patients' time. Would recommend Dr. Cole and MOR without hesitation! read more

Unless you're a SUPER STAR find another Doctor! Cole might be a good doctor (how do I compare, I only had one of these surgeries) but forget trying to see him. He would not stop by directly after surgery to see me, follow up is with his practitioner, next appointment he did not show up so back with the practitioner and finally on last visit 3 months 3 weeks later I saw him for less than 45 seconds and that was after I saw the practitioner. Chuck the Dr. Practitioner is great, answers as many questions as he can. When I stated I still have some pain when doing certain things he told me what may be causing the pain, but when Cole walked in I asked him the same thing and his answer "I wouldn't begin to guess what me causing the pain and he walked out BUT made sure Chuck gave me the VTALS paperwork to do the survey and the last thing Cole said to me was please fill out the survey it's very important. More important to him than spending a few minutes with his patient. So unless you're a super star with the Bulls or Sox or just don't care about follow-ups STAY AWAY from Brian Cole read more

I have been seeing Dr. Cole for 2 Yrs now & have had 3 surgeries with him. The normal wait time in his office is over an hour & the same is true when having surgery. He has never been on time, the longest I waited was over 3 hrs to have my surgery. At his office you will wait an hour at least & see all kinds of PA's and other people & then Cole will come in for less than 10 mins. Unless your Derrick Rose, find another doctor who will care & give you his time. read more