ACL Surgeon
Are you an athlete who participates in sports that involve jumping or quick stopping? If so, you may be at risk of tearing your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. An ACL injury is one of the most common injuries suffered by athletes. ACL specialist, Dr. Mark Getelman provides diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Los Angeles who have suffered an ACL injury. Contact Dr. Getelman’s team today!
ACL Tears Common in Los Angeles Athletics
One of the most common knee injuries diagnosed in the office of Dr. Mark Getelman, board certified knee surgeon, is an ACL tear. Athletes involved in physically demanding sports such as basketball, football and soccer are prone to injuring the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while cutting, stopping or landing incorrectly from a jump. ACL tears typically require surgery to restore stability, strength and mobility to the knee. Injured athletes can put their trust in Dr. Getelman to help return them to the game they love following a torn ACL.
What is an ACL Tear?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs diagonally in the front (anterior) central portion of the knee joint. This particular ligament is responsible for preventing the tibia (shin bone) from sliding out in front of the femur (thigh bone). The ACL also plays a critical role in providing rotational stability to the knee.
ACL tears can occur in various ways, including stopping suddenly, slowing down while running, changing directions too quickly and landing incorrectly from a jump. These movements cause the knee to buckle and shift resulting in the tear. The ACL can also become injured from a hard blow to the knee. This is most common in contact sports such as football.
Studies within the orthopedic field continue to show that female athletes have a higher risk of ACL tears than male athletes in the same sport. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by differences in muscular strength, physical conditioning and neuromuscular control.
The majority of ACL tears are considered near complete or complete tears, meaning the ligament has been severed or torn from the bony attachment and the affected joint is left unstable.
Dr. Mark Getelman is a Leading ACL Knee Surgeon
The majority of patients with an ACL tear will require a surgical procedure to best allow the injured joint to regain function. Most ACL tears cannot be simply stitched back together. In order to properly restore the ligament, a knee surgeon is required to perform an ACL reconstruction.
During an ACL reconstruction, Dr. Getelman will replace the torn ligament with a tissue graft. Grafts are obtained from numerous sources, such as the patient’s own hamstring tendons, patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon, as well as from a donor tissue (allograft).
Dr. Getelman is considered A Super Doctor by LA Magazine and one of the top knee surgeons in Greater Los Angeles. He typically performs more than 100 reconstructions each year compared to a national average of 10 reconstructions per year. Active individuals can truly depend on Dr. Getelman to diagnose and treat the injury with an optimal recovery and return to play.
For treatment of ACL tears in Los Angeles and surrounding communities, please contact the office of knee surgeon Dr. Mark Getelman.