Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- The German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DKOU) 2026 has published its full program and opened registration, with the four-day event set to run October 20-23, 2026 at CityCube Berlin.
DGOOC president frames congress as a hub for continuing education amid staff shortages
In a video interview released as part of a three-part series under the motto "Neue Wege gehen" (Taking New Paths), Dr. Jörn Dohle, president of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery (DGOOC), described DKOU as a "market of possibilities" combining specialized clinical content, interdisciplinary exchange and cross-sector dialogue. Dohle pointed to workforce shortages as a central challenge for the field, noting that while digital tools can support parts of patient care, recruiting young physicians and providing structured learning and exchange formats remains critical.
Program spans subspecialty tracks to industry cooperation and digital implant development
Dohle highlighted the breadth of orthopaedics and trauma surgery, ranging from foot and ankle surgery to digitalization, implant innovation and industry partnerships. The 2026 program includes workshops and sessions tailored to different experience levels, from entry-level training to specialized expertise.
Editor's Choice sessions cover case discussions, guideline updates and a 125-year DGOOC anniversary event
Highlighted sessions include an interactive case discussion for residents and young specialists (Tuesday, October 20, 09:00-14:30, Room M8), a Science Slam with beer and pretzels (Wednesday, October 21, 17:00-18:00, Festsaal), a foot guideline update (Thursday, October 22, 10:30-11:30, New York 1), and a session marking 125 years of DGOOC (Thursday, October 22, 12:00-13:00, Festsaal).
Congress leadership includes presidents from Aachen, Wuppertal and Lüneburg
DKOU 2026 is co-chaired by Prof. Frank Hildebrand (Aachen), Dr. Jörn Dohle (Wuppertal) and Dr. Wolfgang Böker (Lüneburg). The congress is organized as the largest orthopaedics and trauma surgery event in Europe and ranks among the largest globally alongside U.S. and Chinese national society meetings.