German Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society

The German Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (German: Deutsche Assoziation für Fuß und Sprunggelenk e.V., abbreviated D.A.F.) is a German medical professional association and scientific society focused on the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired diseases of the foot and ankle, as well as injuries and their consequences. It was founded in 1993 from a working group of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie (DGOOC) and today serves as the largest section of that parent society. The association is registered as a non-profit organization (eingetragener Verein) with its seat in Neuss, Germany, and is entered in the association register at the Amtsgericht Neuss. The D.A.F. pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes, promoting science in the field of conservative and surgical treatment of foot and ankle conditions. Its activities include exchanging scientific knowledge and practical experience with German and international specialist societies, cooperating with related professions nationally and abroad, advancing the continuing education and training of its members, participating officially in national and international conferences, and supporting research projects. The society organizes a scientific conference at least every two years, led by a conference president. With more than 1,500 orthopedic and trauma surgeons as members, the D.A.F. is the largest section of the DGOOC. It is also an extraordinary member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DGOU). The association offers a certificate in foot surgery (Zertifikat „Fußchirurgie“) that allows interested individuals to specialize in both conservative and surgical aspects of foot medicine. It publishes the journal "Fuß und Sprunggelenk – German Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery" and maintains a prosthesis register (D.A.F.-Register) on the MEMdoc documentation platform, including an OSG register. The D.A.F. holds annual meetings, with the 31st Annual Meeting scheduled for 10–12 September 2026 in Bonn, jointly with the Studiengemeinschaft Orthopädieschuhtechnik e.V., and the 32nd Annual Meeting planned for 3–5 June 2027 in Halle. The society also offers certification courses and master courses, and provides a member search tool for patients seeking orthopedic and trauma surgeons across Germany. Its current president is Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Rammelt, supported by vice presidents PD Dr. med. Dariusch Arbab, Prof. Dr. med. Hazibullah Waizy, and Prof. Dr. med. Hans Polzer, among other board members.

The German Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (Deutsche Assoziation für Fuß und Sprunggelenk e.V., D.A.F.) was founded in 1993 from a working group of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie (DGOOC). It is the legal successor of the Deutscher Arbeitskreis Fußchirurgie – D.A.F. within the DGOOC and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fuß of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU). From its inception, the association has been dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired diseases of the foot and ankle, as well as injuries and their consequences. Over the decades, the D.A.F. has grown into the largest section of the DGOOC, with more than 1,500 orthopedic and trauma surgeons as members. It is also an extraordinary member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DGOU). The society's purpose is the promotion of science in the conservative and surgical treatment of foot and ankle conditions. It realizes this purpose through the exchange of scientific knowledge and practical experience with German and international specialist societies, cooperation with related professions, promotion of continuing education and training, official participation in national and international conferences, and support of research projects. The D.A.F. organizes a scientific conference at least every two years, led by a conference president. It offers a certificate in foot surgery (Zertifikat „Fußchirurgie“) for specialization in conservative and surgical foot medicine, and provides certificate courses and master courses. The society publishes the journal "Fuß und Sprunggelenk – German Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery" and maintains a prosthesis register (D.A.F.-Register) on the MEMdoc documentation platform, including an OSG register. It also provides a member search tool for patients seeking orthopedic and trauma surgeons across Germany. The association is registered as a non-profit organization with its seat in Neuss, Germany, and is entered in the association register at the Amtsgericht Neuss. Its fiscal year is the calendar year. The D.A.F. holds annual meetings; the 31st Annual Meeting is scheduled for 10–12 September 2026 in Bonn, jointly with the Studiengemeinschaft Orthopädieschuhtechnik e.V., and the 32nd Annual Meeting is planned for 3–5 June 2027 in Halle. The current president is Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Rammelt, supported by vice presidents PD Dr. med. Dariusch Arbab, Prof. Dr. med. Hazibullah Waizy, and Prof. Dr. med. Hans Polzer, among other board members.

• 2026

  31st Annual Meeting held in Bonn, 10–12 September 2026, jointly with the Studiengemeinschaft Orthopädieschuhtechnik e.V.

• 1993

  Founded from a working group of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie (DGOOC).

• 32nd Annual Meeting scheduled for 3–5 June 2027 in Halle.

The largest section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery (DGOOC), serving as the leading German scientific society for foot and ankle surgery.

• Zertifikat Fußchirurgie

  Certificate allowing specialization in conservative and surgical foot medicine.

• Zertifikatskurse

  Certificate courses offered for 2026 and 2027.

• Masterkurse

  Master courses offered for 2026 and 2027.

• Journal Fuß und Sprunggelenk – German Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery

  Scientific journal published by the D.A.F.

• D.A.F.-Register

  Prosthesis register on the MEMdoc documentation platform.

• OSG-Register

  Ankle joint register.

1. 1D.A.F. | Deutsche Assoziation für Fuß und Sprunggelenk e.V.daf-online.de
2. 2Über uns | Deutsche Assoziation für Fuß und Sprunggelenk e.V.daf-online.de
3. 3Satzung | Deutsche Assoziation für Fuß und Sprunggelenk e.V.daf-online.de
4. 4Vorstand | Deutsche Assoziation für Fuß und Sprunggelenk e.V.daf-online.de
5. 5German Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society - Wikidatawikidata.org