2026 ISKAOS Knee Arthroplasty Forum: Highlights from Brussels, Belgium

Claudia Arias, MD, PERU

ISAKOS eNewsletters   eNewsletter Article 2026   rating

Brussels, Belgium | October 15–16, 2026

The 2026 ISAKOS Knee Arthroplasty Forum (IKAF) brought together knee surgeons from around the world for two days of great discussions, shared experiences, and, of course, plenty of learning in Brussels, Belgium.

Our local hosts, José F. Huylebroek and René E. Verdonk, together with Program Directors Myles R. J. Coolican and Philippe Noël Neyret, the Program Committee, and an outstanding international faculty, put together a fantastic meeting. The program offered a great mix of scientific presentations, challenging cases, and open discussions that kept everyone engaged throughout the two days.

This year, IKAF welcomed 265 participants from different parts of the world. Europe represented 52.45% of attendees, followed by Latin America (29.43%), Asia Pacific (7.92%), North America (5.28%), and the Middle East/Africa (5.28%). It was great to see so many colleagues coming together, each bringing different experiences, perspectives, and ways of approaching knee arthroplasty.

And I have to say, as a Latin American surgeon, seeing such strong participation from our region made me especially proud! With almost one-third of attendees coming from Latin America, it is wonderful to see how much IKAF means to our community. Seeing so many familiar faces, meeting new colleagues, and having the opportunity to share our experiences on an international stage made the meeting even more special.

That is one of the things I love most about ISAKOS. No matter where we come from or how differently we practice, there is always something we can learn from each other.

The scientific program covered pretty much everything in knee arthroplasty: alignment philosophies, ligament balancing, implant selection, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, patellofemoral issues, short-stay surgery, robotics, and new technologies. We also had plenty of discussions about complex primary cases, revisions, infections, instability, and extensor mechanism problems.

As always, one of my favorite parts of IKAF was the Meet the Experts sessions. There is something really special about sitting around a table with some of the most experienced knee surgeons in the world, discussing challenging cases, asking questions, and hearing how others would approach the same problem. These sessions are always popular, and this year certainly lived up to expectations.

Another session everyone was looking forward to was the IKAF Disasters Session. Nine faculty members took the stage to share some of the most difficult and challenging cases they had faced in their surgical careers. And let's be honest, sharing our complications and difficult experiences in front of colleagues is not always easy! But that is exactly what makes this session so valuable. We get to talk openly about what went wrong, what we learned, and what we might do differently next time, all with the goal of providing better care for our patients.

This year's session was especially competitive, with an impressive selection of cases and great discussions. I was lucky enough to be one of the nine presenters, and I was genuinely surprised and honored when my case was voted the winner by the audience! It was a very special moment for me, particularly among such an outstanding group of colleagues. More than the award itself, I really appreciated the chance to share a challenging experience and hopefully help others learn from it.

One of the best things about these discussions is realizing that even the most experienced surgeons do not always have the same answers. We all approach difficult situations differently, and sometimes the most interesting conversations happen when we disagree.

And that, for me, is what makes IKAF so worthwhile. Of course, we go home with new ideas, technical tips, and different perspectives on knee arthroplasty. But we also leave with something just as important: new friendships, stronger connections, and the feeling that we are part of a community that genuinely enjoys sharing knowledge and helping each other grow.

A big thank you to our local hosts, José F. Huylebroek and René E. Verdonk, and our Program Directors, Myles R. J. Coolican and Philippe Noël Neyret, and the entire Program Committee, faculty, and participants for making these two days such a great experience.

And a very special thank you to the ISAKOS Office team, especially Jennifer, Laura, and Rebecca! So much work happens behind the scenes to make a meeting like this possible, and their dedication, patience, and constant support make a huge difference. We really appreciate everything they do!

Already looking forward to the next IKAF! Another chance to catch up with friends, meet new colleagues, share our experiences, and keep learning together.

Because, at the end of the day, that is what ISAKOS is all about: bringing people together, learning from each other, and working toward better care for our patients.