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ICRAPAIN 2026 | SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME


Theme: “From Evidence to Practice: Shaping the Future of Pain Medicine”

ICRAPAIN 2026 is designed to bridge cutting-edge evidence with day-to-day clinical practice in pain medicine. This year’s focus is on:

  • Regenerative therapies (PRP, BMAC and orthobiologics)
  • Ultrasound-guided (USG-guided) pain interventions
  • Advanced pain procedures including endoscopy, spinal cord stimulation (SCS), vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty and other cement augmentation techniques

The programme combines plenary lectures, debates, case-based sessions, hands-on workshops, live demonstrations and young investigator sessions.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Main focus areas:

  • Regenerative therapies for spine, joints and soft tissues
  • USG-guided interventions for musculoskeletal and spine pain
  • Endoscopic spine procedures
  • Neuromodulation (SCS, DRG stimulation, PNS)
  • Vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and interventional oncology
  • Fundamentals and guidelines for early-career pain physicians
  • Research, outcomes, registries and AI in pain practice

PRE-CONFERENCE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS (DAY – 1) | 3rd SEPT

One can register for either the USG or the C-arm workshop

Intensive, small-group, pre-conference workshops. Delegates may choose one or more tracks depending on availability.

WORKSHOP A: ULTRASOUND-GUIDED INTERVENTIONS BOOTCAMP

  • Basics of USG physics and knobology for pain physicians
  • USG-guided shoulder interventions: suprascapular nerve block, intra-articular injections, subacromial and subdeltoid bursa injections
  • USG-guided interventions for adhesive capsulitis and rotator cuff-related pain
  • USG-guided elbow, wrist and hand interventions:
    • Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
    • Carpal tunnel syndrome
    • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
  • USG-guided hip and knee interventions:
    • Intra-articular hip and knee injections
    • Genicular nerve blocks and planning for genicular RFA
  • Scanning protocols, probe handling, sonoanatomy documentation and safety tips

WORKSHOP B: C-ARM GUIDED SPINE INTERVENTIONS

  • Fluoroscopic anatomy of cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral spine
  • Transforaminal and interlaminar epidural injections: indications, technique, safety and troubleshooting
  • Facet joint interventions and medial branch RFA (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
  • Sacroiliac joint interventions and lateral branch RFA
  • Avoiding and managing complications in fluoroscopy-guided interventions (vascular uptake, dural puncture, hematoma, infection, etc.)

Conference DAY 1 – REGENERATION & EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (4th Sept) (Day-2 of Event)

08:30–10:00 INAUGURAL & PLENARY SESSION

  • Inauguration and welcome addresses
  • Keynote 1: “From Evidence to Practice: Are We Really Shaping the Future of Pain Medicine?”
  • Keynote 2: “Regenerative Pain Medicine in 2026 – Hype, Hope or New Standard of Care?”

10:30–12:30 PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS

TRACK 1: REGENERATIVE THERAPIES – EVIDENCE & INDICATIONS

  • PRP vs BMAC for knee osteoarthritis: summary of current evidence and meta-analyses
  • Regenerative therapy in tendinopathies and enthesopathies (shoulder, elbow, plantar fascia, etc.)
  • Intradiscal biologics in discogenic low back pain – current position and future directions
  • Regenerative interventions for facet and sacroiliac joint pain
  • Panel discussion: “Standardising PRP/BMAC protocols in pain practice – can we agree?”

TRACK 2: USG-GUIDED UPPER LIMB INTERVENTIONS

  • Sonoanatomy of the shoulder: key landmarks for injections and nerve blocks
  • USG-guided interventions for adhesive capsulitis and rotator cuff-related pain
  • USG-guided elbow, wrist and hand interventions for neuropathic and nociceptive conditions
  • Video/live demonstration: step-by-step USG-guided procedures with practical tips

TRACK 3: FUNDAMENTALS – BACK TO BASICS

  • History taking and physical examination in chronic pain – practical approach
  • Differentiating nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic pain at bedside
  • Evidence-based pharmacotherapy in chronic pain: 2026 update

13:30–14:30 INDUSTRY / LUNCH SYMPOSIA

  • Sponsored symposium on regenerative products, biologics or advanced imaging technologies

14:30–16:30 CASE-BASED SESSIONS

MEET-THE-EXPERT: REGENERATION IN DIFFICULT CASES

  • “I tried everything for this knee OA – where does PRP/BMAC fit?”
  • Regenerative options for recalcitrant tendinopathies and chronic soft-tissue pain
  • Setting realistic expectations, consent and medico-legal aspects of regenerative therapy

INTERACTIVE SESSION: USG-GUIDED INTERVENTIONS – REAL CASES

  • Real-life USG case demonstrations and troubleshooting
  • Discussion on needle visualisation, ergonomics and avoiding complications

16:45–18:00 PLENARY & DEBATE

  • Plenary: “Regenerative vs Conventional Interventions in Spine Pain – Friends or Foes?”
  • Debate: “Regenerative therapy should be offered only inside clinical trial settings” – For & Against

Conference DAY 2 – ULTRASOUND-GUIDED & ADVANCED INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES (5th Sept- Event Day 3)

08:30–10:00 PLENARY SESSION

  • “Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy or CT: Choosing the Right Tool for the Right Patient”
  • “Safety in Interventional Pain Procedures – Infection, Bleeding and Other Risks”

10:30–12:30 PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS

TRACK 1: USG-GUIDED SPINE & AXIAL INTERVENTIONS

  • USG-guided cervical medial branch and occipital nerve blocks
  • USG-guided thoracic and lumbar facet interventions: possibilities, limitations and pitfalls
  • USG-guided sacroiliac joint and paraspinal muscle interventions
  • Hybrid techniques: combining USG and fluoroscopy for improved accuracy and safety

TRACK 2: ENDOSCOPIC SPINE INTERVENTIONS

  • Indications and patient selection for endoscopic spine procedures
  • Endoscopic discectomy and decompression: basic steps and outcome data
  • Role of endoscopy in foraminal stenosis and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS)
  • Recorded live cases: stepwise commentary by endoscopic spine experts

TRACK 3: NEUROMODULATION – SCS, DRG STIMULATION & PNS

  • Patient selection and evaluation for neuromodulation
  • Technical aspects of SCS trial and permanent implantation: paresthesia-based, high-frequency and burst systems
  • DRG stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation – expanding indications and evidence
  • Long-term outcomes, complications, revisions and cost-effectiveness of neuromodulation

13:30–14:30 LUNCH SYMPOSIA

  • Industry-led sessions: neuromodulation systems, endoscopic spine platforms, advanced USG devices

14:30–16:30 HANDS-ON ROTATIONS & LIVE-DEMO HUBS
(Small-group rotations; prior registration required)

  • Station 1: USG-guided nerve and plexus blocks on volunteers/models
  • Station 2: USG-guided interventions using simulators/cadaveric images
  • Station 3: Endoscopic spine workstation – instruments, scopes and fluoroscopic correlation
  • Station 4: SCS/PNS lead placement on spine models and basics of programming

16:45–18:00 PANEL DISCUSSION

  • “How to Build an Advanced Interventional Pain Practice in Resource-Limited Settings?”
  • Discussion on training pathways, credentialing, infrastructure and team building

DAY 4 – COMPLEX PAIN SYNDROMES & FUTURE DIRECTIONS (6th Sept)- Post Conference Workshop

One can register for either the USG or the C-arm workshop

Intensive, small-group, pre-conference workshops. Delegates may choose one or more tracks depending on availability.

WORKSHOP A: ULTRASOUND-GUIDED INTERVENTIONS BOOTCAMP

  • Basics of USG physics and knobology for pain physicians
  • USG-guided shoulder interventions: suprascapular nerve block, intra-articular injections, subacromial and subdeltoid bursa injections
  • USG-guided interventions for adhesive capsulitis and rotator cuff-related pain
  • USG-guided elbow, wrist and hand interventions:
    • Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
    • Carpal tunnel syndrome
    • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
  • USG-guided hip and knee interventions:
    • Intra-articular hip and knee injections
    • Genicular nerve blocks and planning for genicular RFA
  • Scanning protocols, probe handling, sonoanatomy documentation and safety tips

WORKSHOP B: C-ARM GUIDED SPINE INTERVENTIONS

  • Fluoroscopic anatomy of cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral spine
  • Transforaminal and interlaminar epidural injections: indications, technique, safety and troubleshooting
  • Facet joint interventions and medial branch RFA (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
  • Sacroiliac joint interventions and lateral branch RFA
  • Avoiding and managing complications in fluoroscopy-guided interventions (vascular uptake, dural puncture, hematoma, infection, etc.)

KEY SCIENTIFIC TRACKS AT ICRAPAIN 2026

  • Regenerative and biologic therapies in pain medicine
  • USG-guided interventions – peripheral, axial and advanced
  • Endoscopic spine procedures, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and cement augmentation
  • Neuromodulation – SCS, DRG stimulation, PNS and emerging technologies
  • Cancer pain, interventional oncology and vertebral procedures
  • Headache, craniofacial pain, pelvic pain and CRPS
  • Fundamentals and guidelines for early-career pain physicians
  • Research, outcomes, registries and AI in pain practice
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Developed By: Daradia Pain Foundation