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ACL Reconstruction Specialist

Kristofer J. Jones, MD -  - Orthopedic Surgeon

Kristofer J. Jones, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine & Cartilage Restoration Specialist located in Westwood, Los Angeles, CA & Downtown Los Angeles, CA

If you play a sport that involves jumping or quick stopping, you might be at risk of tearing your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. ACL tears are one of the most common injuries suffered by athletes, though they can severely limit your ability to continue playing without medical intervention. Dr. Kristofer J. Jones provides diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment of ACL injuries in his Los Angeles practice. Learn more about treatment of a torn ACL. Contact the friendly team at Dr. Jones’s clinic or use the convenient online scheduling tool today. While located in Westwood, we are proud to serve surrounding areas such as Santa Monica, Brentwood, Century City, Culver City, Downtown, and Sherman Oaks.

ACL Reconstruction Q & A

What is the ACL?

ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament, one of the four ligaments that connects the bones comprising your knee, stabilizes the joint, and controls the back and forth movement of your knee. The ACL is one of the most common ligaments injured by athletes.

Are all ACL tears the same?

There are three grades of ACL sprains:

  • Grade 1, which is characterized by mild damage (slight stretching)
  • Grade 2, which describes moderate damage or a partial ligament tear
  • Grade 3, or a complete tear in which the ligament is torn into two separate pieces

Most patients suffer from either Grade 1 or Grade 3 injuries; partial tears are much less common.

What causes ACL injuries?

All of these injuries share contributing factors: sudden change in direction, sudden stopping, landing poorly after jumping, collision (such as being tackled in football), or attempting to slow down while sprinting.

What are the signs and symptoms of an ACL injury?

If you’ve injured your ACL, you can expect to experience swelling, pain, limited range of motion, tenderness to the touch, and discomfort during ambulation (walking). If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms of an ACL injury, you should contact Dr. Jones as soon as possible to prevent further damage or complications.

Do all ACL injuries require surgery?

Surgery is the only way to repair the ACL, but not all patients are good candidates for surgery. Patients who are not eligible for surgical repair may find that they can control pain and stabilize the knee with physical therapy and the use of custom braces.

Patients who are eligible for surgery (most patients) benefit significantly from ACL reconstruction.

What kind of doctor performs ACL reconstruction surgery?

As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jones received extensive training in bone and joint surgeries, including ACL reconstruction, and has performed this procedure hundreds of times. Furthermore, he stays abreast of changing research, recommendations, and technology by meeting his continuing education requirements for period relicensure. You can contact Dr. Jones yourself or request a referral from your primary care provider.