Orthopedic surgeon Jim Lorge helps people in his rural community get moving again
Jim Lorge, DO, an orthopedic surgeon with M Health Fairview, is passionate about helping people with joint pain or injuries get back to being their best.
Lorge arrived at M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center in April, bringing with him a new Mako surgical robot. Designed to assist with hip and knee replacement surgeries, this is the first surgical robot of its kind available for patients at the medical center in Princeton, Minn.
We caught up with Lorge during a day in clinic to learn what makes him passionate about orthopedic care, the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, and how his role as the team physician for a local high school is helping athletes improve their game.
Why did you become an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedic surgery brings me a sense of completion, knowing I was able to truly fix something for a patient. If someone’s hip or arm breaks, I can put it back together. I also enjoy helping people get back to doing what they love. Whether it’s helping a young athlete get back to playing sports or assisting an individual with arthritis who wants to feel comfortable walking outside again, I get to team up with the patient to help restore the activity that is important to them. Another aspect of orthopedics that I love is teaching my patients ways to help prevent future injuries.
What is your background?
Professionally, I’m fellowship-trained in sports medicine and adult reconstructive surgery. Sports medicine includes conditions like ACL and meniscus injuries while adult reconstructive surgery includes hip and knee replacements for arthritis. Personally, I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin and my training took me to Chicago, Detroit, Tampa, and Durham, North Carolina. My wife Kari and I have lived in the Elk River community for the last 10 years while we raise our children Gabi and Anderson.
Tell us about the Mako robot you’re bringing to Northland.
The easiest way to think about the Mako robotic arm is that it's a very high-tech tool in my toolbox. When I conduct joint replacements (hip and knee), the robot gives me more advanced measurements and helps guide the surgery. Having that information is key to making a good decision for the patient. Traditionally, these things were done more manually – which is still a fantastic method, but there are limitations to this process. I want it to be perfect every time with every patient, but not everybody is built the same. The robot can help make sure we get even more consistent, high-quality results every time for every patient. Still, you’ve got to be smarter than the tools you use. I’m excited to have this real-time, detailed information at my fingertips during surgery because it ultimately allows me to help restore anatomy which then gets the patient the results they deserve.
How do you approach patient care?
‘What is bringing you in?’ It’s usually the first question I ask. Then I find out how the issue affects this person’s quality of life. Is it worse when they are playing with their grandkids or playing sports? What are their goals? Once I understand that, then I can partner with them to provide the best option available.
Sometimes, all this means to the patient is that I’m able to identify the condition and that is enough to give them peace of mind. A large percentage of the time, I provide solutions that don’t require surgery. I’m a big believer in physical therapy. I often use the example that if you replace the tires on the car, but you miss the re-alignment, then you’re missing the root cause of the bad tire wear. I work closely with physical therapists to help improve and restore the patient’s overall movement and health.
What made you return to M Health Fairview?
I had been with M Health Fairview for almost 8 ½ years previously and then departed for the last 2 years. What made me come back is the fantastic direction they are heading with rural health. I’m excited with how they are listening to the people living in the community. Leadership works closely with local physicians and community leaders to understand how they can improve health and wellness for the people who live in the area. I’m also excited to bring advanced technology to the Princeton area.
Along with your role as an orthopedic surgeon, you’re also a team physician with Elk River High School. Tell us about that.
I’ve been the team physician for all athletes at Elk River High School since 2013. I love sports and what it teaches the student athlete; the memories they make by participating in sports will last a lifetime. My main goal is to provide education to these athletes – teaching them how to better understand their bodies so those memories aren’t overshadowed by a chronic injury. Often, these young athletes are pushed hard – or push themselves hard. Sometimes, this drive to perform has consequences for their health. I enjoy the relationships that I have developed with the athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers to keep these young athletes in competition. They must take to heart they are student athletes. The student part of course means academics is the priority. But it’s also important for them to learn about how their body works and responds. Then they can become advocates for themselves.
