Two Courses. One Event.

Cartilage Preservation

& Knee Arthroplasty

First Cadaveric Cartilage Surgery Training Course

in Eastern Europe

27 - 28 September 2025

Bucharest, Romania

Comprehensive Cartilage Surgery
Hands-On Skills and Wet Lab Training

First Course - 27 September, Bucharest, Romania

Develop a strong foundation in joint preservation techniques and advanced cartilage repair through hands-on experience in the wet lab, designed to enhance surgical confidence and precision. Learn directly from renowned international experts, recognized for their clinical excellence and teaching experience.

Prof. Elizaveta Kon
Prof. Elizaveta Kon
Dr. John G. Kennedy
Dr. John G. Kennedy
Prof. Dr. Mats Brittberg
Prof. Dr. Mats Brittberg
Dr. Kristof Sas
Dr. Kristof Sas
Dr. Laura de Girolamo
Dr. Laura de Girolamo
Dr. Gabriel Dinu
Dr. Gabriel Dinu
Dr. Koen Lagae
Dr. Koen Lagae
Read more about the course
Buy tickets for the course

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Primary Total and Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Decision, Precision, Execution

Second Course - 28 September, Bucharest, România

Advance to the next stage of patient care, focusing on evidence-based strategies for cases where cartilage preservation is no longer viable and arthroplasty becomes the treatment of choice. Learn directly from leading specialists in the field as they share cutting-edge insights, surgical pearls, and practical know-how to optimise outcomes in complex knee reconstruction.​
Dr. Koen Lagae
Dr. Koen Lagae
Dr. Gabriel Dinu
Dr. Gabriel Dinu
Dr. Liviu Ojoga
Dr. Liviu Ojoga
Dr. Andrei Ursache
Dr. Andrei Ursache
Read more about the course
Buy tickets for the course

Join as a sponsor

Meet our Speakers

Prof. Elizaveta Kon

Humanitas University Milan, Italy

Dr. John G. Kennedy

Foot and Ankle Surgery NYU Langone, New York, USA

Prof. Mats Brittberg

Cartilage Research Unit, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Dr. Kristof Sas

Physician Belgian National Football Team

Dr. Laura de Girolamo

Director Orthopaedic Biotechnology Lab Milan, Italy

Dr. Gabriel Dinu

Memorial Hospital & Fortius Clinic, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Koen Lagae

Head of Knee Department, Monica Hospital Antwerp, Belgium

Dr. Andrei Ursache

Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Liviu Ojoga

Sanador Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Raluca Nicolescu

Course Director, Sfânta Maria & Memorial Hospital Bucharest,Romania

Comprehensive Cartilage Surgery Course

Hands-On Skills and Wet Lab Training

Course Highlights

  • Understand the current landscape of cartilage repair in 2025, including evidence-based treatment strategies, emerging technologies, and the latest updates in regenerative orthopaedics.
  • Learn the indications, techniques, and outcomes of bone marrow stimulation methods, from classical microfracture to advanced options like AMIC and scaffold-supported repair.
  • Gain in-depth knowledge of minced cartilage techniques, including when, why, and how to apply them, and how they compare to traditional ACI approaches.
  • Master the step-by-step surgical execution of osteochondral grafting procedures such as OATS, with practical tips for graft harvesting, implantation, and avoiding common pitfalls.
  • Understand the importance of meniscal preservation in cartilage health, including techniques for managing meniscal extrusion and complex tear repair through wrapping and stabilization.
  • Explore cartilage repair strategies in the ankle joint, including the use of Nano-arthroscopy and biologic adjuncts for treating osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCL).
  • Integrate orthobiologics and cell-based therapies into daily clinical practice, guided by the latest ESSKA consensus and expert experience with PRP, BMAC, and MSCs.
  • Apply practical surgical techniques in a cadaveric wet lab setting, reinforcing hands-on skills in debridement, marrow stimulation, matrix application, cartilage grafting, and biologic augmentation.
Register for the course

Course Schedule 27 September

  • Treatment strategies for preserving the joint
  • Basic science, development and status of ACI 2025 –When, why, and how to use it
  • Microfracture remain the golden standard? Dr. Koen Lagae
  • Step-by-step techniques (Micro/Nano, AMIC)- Prof. Elizaveta Kon
  • Technical pearls for harvesting and grafting- Prof. E Kon
  • Avoiding pitfalls, maximizing integration- Dr. J. Kennedy
  • Wrapping techniques for complex tears – Dr. Dinu Gabriel
  • Managing meniscus extrusion effectively Dr. Koen Lagae
  • Cartilage Repair in the Ankle- Dr. Mats Brittberg
  • Nanoscope in Talar OCL treatment- Dr. John Kennedy
  • How to integrate biologics into your practice- Dr. Kristof Sas
  • Orthobiologics in talar OCL Treatment- Dr. John Kennedy
  • Key takeaways from the ESSKA consensus for treating knee osteoarthritis 
  • Defect preparation
  • Careful removal of damaged cartilage
  • Marrow stimulation via microfracture, nanofracture, or drilling
  • Advanced BMS techniques using scaffold augmentation (AMIC)
  • Meniscal wrapping with collagen membrane – Cover the repaired meniscus with a collagen membrane and secure it using meniscal suturing techniques for enhanced healing.
  • Meniscal extrusion – positioning and anchor placement – Correctly reposition the extruded meniscus and fix it using optimal anchor placement for stability and restoration of load distribution.

 

  • Osteochondral restoration – knee

    Mosaicplasty: harvesting and implanting osteochondral plugs to restore femoral condyle defects.

  • Osteochondral restoration – ankle

    Mosaicplasty for medial/lateral talar dome defects with precise contour matching and fixation.

  • Tibial osteotomy for talar access

    Optimizing visualization of talar osteochondral lesions and ensuring stable consolidation.

  • Nanoscope-assisted ankle procedures

    Minimally invasive arthroscopic management of talar lesions with small-bore visualization systems.

  • Biologic augmentation

    Application of PRP, BMAC, and scaffolds to enhance cartilage repair and graft integration.

 

Primary total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty​

Decision, Precision, Execution​

Course Highlights

  • Perform a structured clinical and functional assessment of the arthritic knee.
  • Identify the patient’s specific reconstructive needs and appropriate surgical indications.
  • Integrate a patient-centered approach into preoperative decision-making
  • Anticipate, recognize, and categorize potential intraoperative and postoperative complications.
  • Describe and execute safe and effective techniques for primary total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
  • Evaluate and manage early and late postoperative challenges.
  • Communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team to ensure comprehensive patient care.
  • Implement best practices to optimize surgical outcomes.
Register for the course

Course Schedule 28 September

Course introduction, objectives, and structure of the day.

  • Balancing techniques
  • Patient selection criteria, surgical techniques, and long-term outcomes.
  • Radiological assessment, templating, and digital tools for accuracy
  • Intraoperative pitfalls, postoperative issues, and decision-making in complex cases.
  • Interactive review of challenging cases with audience response and open debate
  • Interactive review of challenging cases with audience response and open debate
  • Patient positioning and exposure
  • Surgical approaches for medial and  uni
  • Tibial and femoral preparation
  • Trialing and component placement
  • Converting uni to total knee

–  Converting uni to total knee

– Surgical exposure / multiple scars influence the decision

– Bone cuts and alignment

– Balancing techniques

– TKA to PCK Revision Knee: stepwise evaluation of failure, implant removal, and reconstruction techniques

Full experience

Theoretical Sessions + Hands-On Wet Lab

27 September

Full Course: Hands-On Laboratory + Theoretical Sessions / Presentations

  • Includes both the hands-on cadaveric laboratory training and the theoretical lectures and presentations for a single course.
  • Limited to 12 participants to ensure an intensive, high-quality training environment.
  • Ideal for surgeons wishing to refine their skills and translate theory into practice.
  • Access to all theoretical lectures, keynote presentations, and case-based discussions.
  • Participation in hands-on cadaveric laboratory sessions under the direct guidance of the international faculty.
  • Offers the most comprehensive experience: gain up-to-date knowledge and apply techniques in a realistic, practical setting.
  • Practical training simulates real surgical scenarios on cadaveric specimens.
  • Training will use 6 cadaveric specimens for optimal learning.
  • Networking opportunities
  • Event materials
Register
28 September

Full Course: Hands-On Wet Lab + Theoretical Sessions / Presentations

  • Includes both the hands-on wet-lab training and the theoretical lectures and presentations for a single course.
  • Limited to 12 participants to ensure an intensive, high-quality training environment.
  • Ideal for surgeons wishing to refine their skills and translate theory into practice.
  • Participants attend expert-led lectures, case discussions, and surgical technique demonstrations.
  • Opportunity to apply newly acquired knowledge directly during the wet lab sessions.
  • Training conducted on human cadaveric specimens.
  • Two participants per specimen to ensure high-quality, intensive learning.
  • Close supervision from international faculty for optimal skill development.
  • Participants will learn the key points for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).
  • Covers conversion of UKA to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) techniques.
  • Includes guidance on indications for bilateral TKA.
  • Networking opportunities
  • Event materials
Register
27 & 28 September

Full Program: Both Courses (Theoretical + Hands-On Wet Lab)

  • Includes the full program for both courses: theoretical sessions + hands-on wet lab.
  • The two courses are designed as a complementary learning pathway, offering participants the opportunity to integrate advanced strategies for cartilage preservation with evidence-based approaches for managing cartilage collapse.
  • The first five registered participants receive free access to the social night – an exclusive networking dinner with the international faculty that offers a unique opportunity to meet, interact, and exchange ideas with experts in an informal and friendly atmosphere.
Register
Academic Experience

Theoretical Sessions- On-screen connection from Wet Lab Station 1 to Auditorium, with guidance from lab leaders

27 September

Theoretical-Only Option (Without Hands-On Wet Lab)

  • Includes access exclusively to the theoretical component of the course.
  • Participation in all scientific lectures, keynote presentations, and interactive case-based discussions.
  • Learn directly from the world’s leading experts in cartilage repair and joint preservation.
  • Brings you fully up to date with the latest international consensus on treating cartilage lesions.
  • Gain exclusive insights into treatment algorithms and decision-making from surgeons who set the global standards.
  • Ideal for surgeons seeking cutting-edge updates without hands-on training, or for those already confident in their surgical skills who want to focus on the academic and conceptual aspects.
  • Perfect for orthopaedic specialists, sports medicine physicians, and researchers aiming to integrate the most recent evidence into daily practice.
  • Benefit from direct interaction with faculty during Q&A sessions, panel debates, and case reviews.
  • Networking opportunities
  • Event materials
Register
28 September

Theoretical-Only Option (Without Hands-On Wet Lab)

  • Includes access exclusively to the lecture and presentation sessions for a single course.
  • Participation in expert-led scientific lectures, keynote presentations, and interactive case discussions.
  • Discover the latest treatment techniques and innovations from internationally recognized experts.
  • Perfect for surgeons seeking to update their knowledge without participating in the wet lab.
  • Engage with the faculty in interactive Q&A sessions to clarify complex cases and surgical approaches.
  • Networking opportunities
  • Event materials
Register
27 & 28 September

Theoretical-Only Option (Without Hands-On Wet Lab)

  • Includes access to the complete theoretical program for both courses.
  • Participation in all scientific lectures, keynote presentations, and interactive case-based discussions.
  • Learn directly from the world’s leading experts in cartilage repair and joint preservation.
  • Brings you fully up to date with the latest international consensus on treating cartilage lesions.
  • Gain exclusive insights into treatment algorithms and decision-making from surgeons who set the global standards.
  • Ideal for surgeons seeking cutting-edge updates without hands-on training, or for those already confident in their surgical skills who want to focus on the academic and conceptual aspects.
  • Perfect for orthopaedic specialists, sports medicine physicians, and researchers aiming to integrate the most recent evidence into daily practice.
  • Benefit from direct interaction with faculty during Q&A sessions, panel debates, and case reviews.
  • Connect with peers and experts during networking breaks and the social night (optional add-on).
  • Networking opportunities
  • Event materials
Register
partners

Educational Partner

We are proud to partner with Dan Istodorescu, from Medical Ortovit .
Their commitment to advancing knowledge and improving patient outcomes perfectly aligns with the goals of this event

FAQ

frequently asked questions

This event features two separate advanced surgical courses held on consecutive days, which can be attended individually or together.

  • Course 1: Comprehensive Cartilage Surgery: Hands-On Skills and Wet Lab Training – focused on modern cartilage preservation techniques.

  • Course 2: Primary Total and Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty – Decision, Precision, Execution – focused on arthroplasty as the treatment of choice when joint preservation is no longer possible.

Together, they provide a complete educational pathway from preservation to reconstruction.

Orthopaedic surgeons with intermediate to advanced experience in cartilage surgery or arthroplasty, as well as sports medicine specialists interested in joint preservation and reconstruction strategies.

The event will be hosted at Spitalul Clinic Sfânta Maria, Bulevardul Ion Mihalache 37–39, Bucharest, Romania.

Each day includes a theoretical session with lectures, case discussions, and Q&A, followed by hands-on wet lab training on cadaveric specimens for full-course participants.

Wet lab training is limited to 12 participants 

Yes. All participants will receive a certificate of participation for each course they attend. The accreditation process for CME points is currently in progress, and details will be communicated once confirmed.

All sessions will be conducted in English.

Accommodation is not included in the registration fee. Lunch and coffee breaks are provided during the course days.

You can register online via the official event page. Spaces for the wet lab are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Yes. The first five participants who register for both courses receive complimentary access to the Social Night Dinner with faculty.

Each cadaver will be shared by two participants. This setup ensures that every participant has enough time and opportunity to perform all the techniques they wish to practice, with close supervision from the faculty.

There is no limit for the theoretical sessions. We want as many participants as possible to benefit from the valuable information, insights, and experience shared by our distinguished lecturers.

Contact the organizing team at contact@cartilage.courses to discuss available packages and tailor a partnership that meets your objectives.