Dr. Stephen Gardner was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. An avid soccer player growing up, Dr. Gardner played four years of varsity soccer for the University of California, Los Angeles graduating summa cum laude with a degree in biochemistry and computer programming. He remained at UCLA for medical school where he graduated valedictorian of his class. Dr. Gardner continued his training in Boston, MA at the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program where he served as Massachusetts General Hospital Chief Resident during his 5th year. After residency, Dr. Gardner returned to Los Angeles to pursue an additional year of training in sports medicine at the prestigious Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. During his fellowship, Dr. Gardner treated both high-level adult and youth athletes and served as assistant team physician for multiple profession and college sports teams.
Dr. Gardner Lives in Costa Mesa with his wife Heather and three sons, Matthew, Gavin and Andrew. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, golf, skiing, mountaineering and crossfit.
- Diplomate, American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (Board-Certified)
- Board Certified, Orthopedic Sports Medicine
- Fellowship Trained, Sports Medicine
- Member of Arthroscopy Association of North America
- Member of American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- Member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Member of California Orthopedic Association
Dr. Gardner believes in providing attentive, compassionate orthopedic care in order to return function and improve quality of life for his patients.
Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Dr. Gardner performs most of his surgeries in an outpatient setting utilizing minimally-invasive arthroscopic techniques allowing for less pain and quicker functional recovery. Dr. Gardner has extensive training in shoulder and knee arthroscopy as well as non-operative orthopedic sports care. Dr. Gardner works closely with athletes of all levels. As a fellow at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, Dr. Gardner worked with the 2014 Stanley Cup Champions LA Kings. He also worked as team physician for Loyola Marymount University and provided coverage for the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, LA Angels of Anaheim, LA Ducks and LA Kiss. He also provided event coverage for the Summer X Games in Los Angeles.
Common arthroscopic/sports procedures performed by Dr. Gardner
Complex knee ligament reconstruction
- Autograft and allograft ACL reconstruction
- ACL repair with BEAR implant
- Revision ACL reconstruction
- Lateral extra-articular tenodesis
- PCL reconstruction
- Posterolateral ligament reconstruction
- Patellofemoral stabilization
- Meniscal repair
- Cartilage restoration
Shoulder and Elbow
- Rotator cuff repair and revisions
- Superior capsular reconstruction, Interpositional balloon Arthroplasty
- Biceps tenodesis
- Arthroscopic and open stabilization, Latarjet
- Labral repairs
- Distal biceps repair
TOTAL JOINT SURGERY
Dr. Gardner performs hip, knee and shoulder replacements. He is trained in the direct anterior, muscle splitting total hip arthroplasty allowing with short hospital stays and quicker recovery. Dr. Gardner performs robotic-assisted personalized knee replacement using the Zimmer ROSA system ensuring accurate and reproducible implant placement. Dr. Gardner also performs all anatomic shoulder and reverse shoulder replacement with CT-based patient-specific guides for custom implant placement tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy.
COMPREHENSIVE FRACTURE CARE
Dr. Gardner takes emergency room trauma call at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center. Mission Hospital is a level-two trauma serving the entire Southern Orange County and North San Diego region. Dr. Gardner treats all types of orthopedic trauma from closed treatment of simple fracture to operative treatment of complex fractures throughout the entire body.
Community Orthopedic Medical Group
Dr. Gardner is in private practice and is a partner at Community Orthopedics. Community Orthopedic Medical Group is one of the largest private orthopedic practices in Orange County. Our orthopedic specialists are adept in orthopedic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry). COMG orthopedics specialists are experts in surgical orthopedic care, and non-surgical orthopedic techniques aimed at improving function, while minimizing pain. COMG has a superbly trained and compassionate physician team, and a caring support staff. Everyone at COMG has dedicated their talents to providing you with the finest orthopedic care available.
Our mission is to provide the highest quality, most comprehensive and compassionate orthopedic care.
Read More
Articles
- Dr. Gardner's patient and her journey with her ROSA Robotic Knee Replacement was featured in the fall edition of "Health Matters."
- Feeling Weak in the Knees?
- All Knees and Elbows: Preventing ACL Tears and Overthrowing Injuries in Young Athletes
Peer Reviewed Articles
- Gardner ST MD. Weaver MJ MD. Jerabek S MD. Rodriguez E MD. Vrahas M MD. Harris MB MD. Predictors of early failure in young patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. Journal of Orthopaedics 12 (2015), pp. 75-80. PMID: 44210212.
- Gardner ST. Ruchelsman D. Mudgal CS. Concomitant High Energy Fractures of the Distal Radius and Hook of Hamate. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2012 May;37(4):366-7.PMID: 222908813. Bowen RE.
- Gardner ST. Scaduto AA. Eagan M. Beckstead J. Efficacy of Intraoperative cell salvage machines in pediatric idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing spinal fusion with segmental spinal instrumentation. Spine. 2010 Jan 15;35(2):246-51. PMID: 20081521