Digitalisation and AI in orthopaedic treatment and care
Digitalisation and AI in orthopaedic treatment and care
Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are bringing about noticeable changes in orthopaedic treatment and care. They support specialists and open up new avenues in the provision of medical aids such as orthoses and prostheses to patients. From 19 to 22 May 2026 in Leipzig, the OTWorld 2026 World Congress and International Trade Show will show how digital and AI-supported applications are already being used today – from analysis and care to rehabilitation. Visitors will gain scientific and practical insights as well as concrete approaches for implementation in clinics, workshops and medical supply stores.
The focus is not on the technology itself, but on its concrete benefits for practice. The World Congress will show where digital solutions are already being used today, what opportunities they open up – and where their limits lie. Experts from the fields of medicine, rehabilitation, prosthetics and orthotics will discuss how digital applications can be meaningfully integrated into existing care structures.
Digital tools between support and responsibility
A central symposium will be dedicated to the opportunities and risks of AI, digitalisation and robotics in rehabilitation. Among other things, applications from prosthetics and orthotics robotics, AI-supported documentation and decision-making processes, and the use of augmented and virtual reality in therapy and pain visualisation will be presented. It will become clear that digital systems can relieve the burden on specialists and improve processes – but they cannot replace professional responsibility and personal care.
Other sessions will highlight digital innovations in the healthcare system as a whole. Topics include digital health applications (DiGA), AI in gait analysis and prosthesis fitting, and teleconsultations for complex treatment cases. The congress will make it clear that digital solutions are effective when they are developed in a practical manner, critically evaluated and used in an interdisciplinary way.
From 3D printing to AI-supported care processes
Special attention is paid to additive manufacturing processes and digital workflows in orthopaedic treatment and care. Free papers and workshops show how 3D printing is used in prosthetics, orthotics and individual protection and therapy systems – from material selection and socket design to clinical evaluation. This is complemented by practical insights into digital care processes: from scanning and CAD-supported modelling to milling and printing technology.
This clearly shows how closely the skilled trades, digital processes and AI already interact today. Digital technologies support analysis, manufacturing and customisation – but the quality of care remains closely linked to experience, expertise and dialogue with the patient.
Knowledge, networking and innovative strength: digitalisation at the trade show
The International Trade Show in 2026 will also place a clear focus on digitalisation, AI and networked care. The exhibition area OTWorld.education + research in Hall 1 will showcase how research, technological development and training are interlinked. Here, the latest digital applications will meet scientific expertise and international educational opportunities – with the aim of further developing orthopaedic treatment and care in a data-based, efficient and future-proof manner.
A central highlight within this exhibition area is the spotlight ‘Robotics + AI’. It demonstrates in a practical way how modern assistance systems, humanoid robotics and intelligent technologies support prosthetics and orthotics work processes, complement therapies and open up new fields of application in care, training and everyday life. Interactive use cases, live demonstrations and short presentations highlight the potential that AI-supported systems already offer today – and how they can be responsibly integrated into existing care structures.
The OTWorld.campus is also located in the OTWorld.education + research exhibition area as a joint stand. It complements the focus with the perspective of education and advanced training in the digital age. International educational institutions present courses and programmes that firmly anchor digitalisation, interdisciplinary research and modern technologies in the curriculum. Student projects such as a myoelectric railway or an autonomous wheelchair illustrate how digital competence, creativity and practical development work together.
With the OTWorld.3D exhibition area in Hall 1, the International Trade Show focuses on digital manufacture as a key driver of innovation in orthopaedic treatment and care. The latest findings and solutions relating to 3D printing and 3D scanning, software and hardware will be presented, including state-of-the-art printers, innovative materials and custom-made medical aids created using additive processes. The exhibition area includes the ‘Digital Manufacture Innovation Forum’. Here, exhibitors will present the latest digital manufacture processes for prosthetics, orthotics and insoles, showcase AI-controlled processes and demonstrate how greater efficiency and precision are bringing about lasting change in the reality of care provision.
The OTWorld.start-ups area in Hall 3 also provides fresh impetus. Twenty-four young companies from 11 countries showcase innovative solutions in the fields of digital manufacture, assistance systems, software and intelligent materials. In the ‘Digital Manufacture’ innovation forum in particular, compact start-up pitches present forward-looking technologies that further advance digital workflows and AI applications.
Access to OTWorld 2026
The ticket shop for OTWorld 2026 is now open. OTWorld full tickets (OTWorld COMPLETE) are available, which include access to the World Congress and the International Trade Show. An early bird rate is available until 31 March, offering savings of up to 80.00 EUR. Discounted day tickets are further available for pupils, students and trainees – with a reduced OTWorld COMPLETE ticket at 89.00 EUR and a reduced OTWorld TRADE SHOW ticket at 21.00 EUR (valid proof of eligibility must be presented). A special Trade Show Group ticket at a reduced ticket price of 29.00 EUR can be recommended for visitor groups with a minimum of four attendees who would like to attend the International Trade Show, including all workshops (exhibitor and congress workshops). Separate two-day tickets are also available for participants of the Youth Academy for Technical Orthopaedics (JA.TO). An early bird rate with a saving of 10.00 EUR is available until 31 March.
Further information on the congress programme is available online
here
. The ticket shop can be accessed
here
.
Image caption:
Digital shoe technology at OTWorld: from analysis and design to 3D manufacturing, networked processes demonstrate how modern workflows efficiently support care provision. Credits: Niclas Schmidt / Leipziger Messe
Further information
About OTWorld
About Leipziger Messe
OTWorld on the Internet:
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