The 22nd annual conference of the Indian Arthroplasty Association will bring more than 150 Indian and overseas faculty members together for scientific sessions, surgical demonstrations and a first large-scale cadaveric workshop in the association’s history.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is scheduled to inaugurate IAACON 2026, the 22nd annual conference of the Indian Arthroplasty Association (IAA), in Ahmedabad on 23 October. The three-day meeting will run until 25 October at The Forum, Celebration and Convention, on Club O7 Road in Shela, Ahmedabad. It will bring together more than 1,000 delegates and over 150 national and international faculty members to discuss developments in joint replacement surgery.

The conference will follow the theme “Evolving Arthroplasty – Robotics, Kinematics and Innovation”. Its programme includes 25 scientific sessions, around 30 surgical videos, expert discussions and workshops on artificial intelligence (AI), robotic-assisted surgery, surgical navigation and the treatment of complex joint infections and fractures around artificial joints.

A major part of the meeting will take place a day before the main conference. On 22 October, the IAA will hold a cadaveric workshop at B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. Organisers describe it as the first large-scale workshop of its kind in the association’s history.

The workshop will use 12 cadaveric specimens to teach surgical techniques for hip, knee and shoulder replacement. The procedures include the Direct Anterior Approach to hip replacement, Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty, Total Knee Arthroplasty and Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. Ten international faculty members from Australia, Ireland, the United States and the United Kingdom are expected to take part.

Cadaveric training allows surgeons to study human anatomy and practise surgical steps in a controlled setting. It can help doctors understand the position of bones, muscles and other tissues before performing similar procedures on patients. Such training is particularly useful for surgeons learning complex techniques or working with newer surgical methods.

IAACON 2026 will examine how technology is changing the planning and performance of joint replacement operations. Robotic-assisted surgery and computer-based navigation can help surgeons plan implant placement and guide certain movements during an operation. The results still depend on the patient’s condition, the surgeon’s judgement and the technique used.

A dedicated session by Dr H.P. Bhalodia will examine AI-assisted total hip replacement using Intellijoint technology. The session will add to discussions on how digital tools can support surgeons when planning and carrying out operations.

Kinematics, another subject in the conference theme, concerns the way joints move. In knee replacement surgery, surgeons consider the alignment of the leg, the position of the implant and the movement of the joint. These factors can affect stability and function after surgery.

The conference will also cover periprosthetic fractures, which occur around an artificial joint, and infections involving joint replacements. Both can require complex treatment, especially when a patient has already undergone surgery.

Joint replacement surgery is commonly used when severe arthritis damages the hip or knee and causes persistent pain or difficulty walking. During an operation, the damaged joint surfaces are replaced with artificial components designed to help the joint move more comfortably.

The World Health Organisation estimated that 528 million people worldwide were living with osteoarthritis in 2019, a rise of 113 per cent since 1990. The knee was the most commonly affected joint, followed by the hip and hand. The condition can cause pain, swelling and stiffness, making everyday activities difficult.

Joint replacement may help people with severe disease regain movement and improve their quality of life. However, surgery is not suitable for everyone. Doctors assess symptoms, joint damage, general health and other treatment options before recommending an operation.

The Indian Arthroplasty Association has played a role in developing specialist training in this field. According to the association’s published history, its first meeting took place in Chandigarh in 1995. Its early work followed efforts by Indian orthopaedic surgeons to expand hip and knee replacement services and improve specialist training.

The association’s history also records an international meeting in Mumbai in 1997, attended by surgeons from India and overseas. Training programmes and fellowships later became part of its work. IAACON 2026 continues this focus on professional education, with sessions intended for experienced surgeons, postgraduate residents and other eligible medical professionals.

The Ahmedabad conference will include the IAA’s consensus document, intended to support decision-making in joint replacement surgery. Such documents can help doctors discuss treatment choices using agreed clinical guidance, although individual decisions must still reflect each patient’s needs.

The programme will also feature the C.S. Ranawat Gold Medal Competition, in which two papers will be selected, and the C.S. Ranawat Memorial Lecture by Dr Parag Sancheti.

Dr Dhiraj Marothi Jain, the organising secretary, is part of the conference leadership. Dr H.P. Bhalodia is listed as organising chairman on the event’s official website.

For orthopaedic surgeons and postgraduate trainees, the sessions offer an opportunity to compare clinical practices and discuss the practical use of newer technology. For the wider medical community, the meeting comes as healthcare providers face growing demand for treatment of joint disorders and the need to train surgeons in increasingly specialised procedures.

IAACON 2026 will take place from 23 to 25 October at The Forum, Celebration and Convention, Club O7 Road, Shela, Ahmedabad. The cadaveric workshop is scheduled for 22 October at B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital. The organisers have announced spot registration for eligible delegates.

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