OfficeOrthoCon26: First International Conference on Office Orthopedics to Promote Non-Operative Orthopaedic Care

Pune: OfficeOrthoCon26, the first International Conference on Office Orthopedics, will bring together orthopaedic surgeons and clinicians from across India and internationally to focus on non-operative management of orthopaedic patients. Organised by the Global Association of Office Orthopedics (GAOO), the conference will be held at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Pune, on September 26 and 27, 2026, with live procedures and workshops scheduled at Sancheti Hospital on September 25.

The conference comes against the backdrop of rapid developments in healthcare science, technology and medical knowledge. OfficeOrthoCon26 aims to focus attention on the role of non-operative orthopaedic management and practical approaches that can be implemented in outpatient department (OPD) and clinic settings.

Rapid advances in healthcare alongside rising treatment costs

The healthcare landscape is witnessing an explosion in the science of healthcare, with extensive research, new concepts, innovations and newer technologies emerging rapidly. Digital media has also contributed to the rapid expansion of medical knowledge.

At the same time, healthcare is becoming increasingly expensive. Market forces have contributed to a tendency towards expensive medicines and gadgets, while the growing presence of the corporate sector has brought significant investments and advanced technologies into healthcare.

According to the organisers of OfficeOrthoCon26, the growth of the corporate healthcare sector has helped bring the latest technologies, equipment and investigations to India. These developments have enabled more precise diagnosis and advanced treatment, including highly modernised equipment, robotics, navigation systems and minimally invasive surgeries.

The advancement of healthcare infrastructure has also reduced the need for patients to travel abroad for advanced medical treatment, as many of the latest treatments are now available in India itself.

However, the organisers point out that these developments have also contributed to increased treatment costs.

Focus on non-operative orthopaedic treatment

The organisers of OfficeOrthoCon26 state that substantial investments in healthcare can create a tendency towards investigations and surgical procedures, including procedures that may not always be indicated. They also point to a common perception that the best treatment is always expensive.

According to the conference organisers, more than 80% of surgeries can be avoided or postponed using judicious non-operative treatment. This branch of non-operative orthopaedics is referred to as Office Orthopedics.

The term has its origins in the use of the word “office” for an OPD or clinic in western countries. Office Orthopedics, therefore, refers to the non-operative management of orthopaedic conditions in an OPD or clinic setting.

Dr NJ Karne’s initiative in Office Orthopedics

Dr NJ Karne, a renowned Orthopedic Surgeon from Pune with more than 41 years of experience in practice, has been President of the Office Orthopedics Committee of the Indian Orthopedic Association for the last four years.

According to the information provided for OfficeOrthoCon26, Dr Karne identified surgeons in different parts of India who were successfully treating many orthopaedic patients without surgery. This led to the formation of the first National Association of Office Orthopedics, the Global Association of Office Orthopedics (GAOO).

The association has been established with a focus on bringing together orthopaedic surgeons who have experience in non-operative management and creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional interaction.

Need for greater focus on non-operative management

The organisers of OfficeOrthoCon26 have highlighted what they describe as a gap in training related to non-operative management.

According to the conference organisers, non-operative management is not sufficiently taught or focused on in postgraduate curricula and training. After postgraduate education, fellowships are predominantly focused on surgical procedures. The organisers also state that textbooks, conferences, continuing medical education programmes, research and innovations have largely focused on surgical procedures.

As a result, the organisers believe that the increase in surgical procedures is not the fault of doctors alone. They state that doctors may not always receive adequate training in non-operative management of orthopaedic patients and therefore may lack sufficient knowledge to treat patients non-operatively even when they wish to avoid surgery.

This training gap is one of the areas that OfficeOrthoCon26 and GAOO intend to address.

GAOO to focus on training orthopaedic surgeons

The Global Association of Office Orthopedics is focusing on training orthopaedic surgeons to successfully treat orthopaedic patients without surgery.

The association has also identified senior orthopaedic surgeons who have developed their own effective non-operative methods and philosophies. GAOO intends to bring these surgeons onto a common platform where their approaches can be discussed and evaluated through deliberations and interactions.

According to the organisers, this process is intended to help create effective protocols for the non-operative management of orthopaedic conditions.

OfficeOrthoCon26 will provide a platform for these discussions, bringing together international and renowned national faculty members along with delegates from across India.

Live procedures and workshops at Sancheti Hospital

As part of OfficeOrthoCon26, live procedures will be conducted during three workshops at Sancheti Hospital, Pune, on September 25, 2026.

The main conference will take place on September 26 and 27 at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Pune. The conference programme will run from 7 am to 7 pm on both days.

The organisers have planned participation from international and renowned national faculty members, along with delegates from different parts of India.

Practical approach to modern orthopaedic practice

According to the organisers, OfficeOrthoCon26 has been designed to address the practical realities of modern orthopaedic practice.

The conference will focus on areas including accurate diagnosis, streamlined management protocols, patient communication and procedural excellence within OPD settings.

The programme will bring together distinguished faculty members and clinicians for enhancement sessions and clinically relevant deliberations. The stated objective is to create a dynamic learning environment that can directly benefit doctors and patients in their day-to-day practice.

Case-based discussions and evidence-based protocols

The scientific programme at OfficeOrthoCon26 will emphasise case-based discussions, evidence-based protocols and practical strategies that can be implemented in OPD settings.

The conference will also feature signature workshops, high-impact master classes and curated sessions focused on real-world challenges encountered in everyday orthopaedic practice.

Through these sessions, the organisers aim to facilitate the exchange of practical knowledge and experiences among orthopaedic professionals.

Platform for collaboration among orthopaedic surgeons

Beyond academics, OfficeOrthoCon26 is positioned as a platform for collaboration among orthopaedic surgeons and clinicians.

The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to connect with peers, exchange ideas and collectively work towards strengthening standards of OPD-based orthopaedic care across the country.

The organisers also intend for the association to serve as a common platform for senior orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals with experience in non-operative treatment approaches.

OfficeOrthoCon26 aims to strengthen OPD-based orthopaedic care

With its focus on non-operative management, practical training and knowledge exchange, OfficeOrthoCon26 will bring together orthopaedic professionals for discussions around the management of patients in OPD and clinic settings.

The conference will combine live procedures, workshops, master classes, case-based discussions and evidence-based protocols over three days in Pune.

The organisers state that the broader objective of OfficeOrthoCon26 and the Global Association of Office Orthopedics is to strengthen the understanding and practice of non-operative orthopaedic management and develop effective approaches that can be applied in day-to-day clinical practice.

According to the organisers, the conference is intended to bring a revolution in Orthopedic Management by increasing the focus on non-operative treatment and OPD-based orthopaedic care.