Best Spine Surgery Clinics in Israel

Treatment and diagnosis of spinal disorders in Israel

Spine surgery sectors in Israel offer a range of avant-garde techniques and customized procedures to serve each patient individually. They provide diagnosis and treatment under one roof, cutting short all the hassle of moving from department to department.

There are extremely skilled spine surgeons in Israel, their unparalleled experience leads to a high success rate of the spine surgeries performed in Israel. These doctors treat many spine-related conditions, some of which are listed below:

• Degenerative disc disease / Disc slip
• Spinal injury
• Spinal Tumors
• Spinal stenosis
• Abscess
• Herniated disc
• Epidural Hematoma in spinal cord
• Vertebral fracture
• Bone spurs
• Spondylosis
• Spine Arthritis
• Displacement of the lumbar or cervical discs
• Scoliosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Spine fracture
• Intervertebral hernia

The latest medical research and advanced diagnostic equipment have made the diagnosis of spine disorders much quick and more efficient. Some of the diagnostic methods that are being practiced in Israel to diagnose spine-related conditions are:

•  X-ray densitometry: X-ray examination of bone tissue, which allows assessing its density. It is a method of radiological diagnosis of the spine, in which a targeted X-ray examination of certain vertebrae is performed.

•  Doppler ultrasound: A method of wave diagnostics, which gives an idea of ​​the blood flow in the vessels of the spine.

• Electromyography (EMG): A procedure to study muscle activity using electrical impulses.  This method allows you to more specifically recognize the nature of the disease of the spine.

•  Positron emission tomography (PET): is a type of examination of the spine, which detects metastatic lesions of the vertebrae.  Usually, PET is combined with CT.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine allows doctors to obtain images of the spinal column without exposure to ionizing radiation.

The doctors and staff at spine surgery centers in Israel not only offer surgical treatment but provide a conservational treatment which often includes oral drugs and physical therapy.

However, many conditions can not be treated by conservative methods and surgery remains the only option. Modern operation technology and innovative surgical techniques used in Israel help the patients in getting as safe treatment as possible.

Types of Spine Surgery in Israel

• Laminectomy is an operation on the vertebra and vertebral arch, the purpose of which is to remove a piece of bone tissue directly above the spinal root.
• Discectomy is an operation on an intervertebral disc, in which a part of the disc that extends beyond the intervertebral connection is removed (in other words, a protrusion or hernial protrusion).
• Spinal Fusion is a procedure used to connect two or more vertebrae. Spinal fusion or spinal fixation using the Spinal Fusion method is a modern and safe method of treating fractures and curvature of the spine, prolapsed discs, and congenital defects.

The essence of the method is to fasten two or more vertebrae to restrict the mobility of the affected area and preserve the patient's motor function.

The surgeon makes a small incision in the neck or back and holds the vertebrae together with metal pins, screws, and plates that are attached to the back of the vertebrae. The duration of hospitalization after stabilization of the spine is no more than 7 days.

• Scoliosis treatment using the ApiFix system: Conventional methods of correcting the curvature of the spine require a lengthy operation, during which more than 20 screws are installed. After that, there is severe pain and discomfort, since the muscles and ligaments are not ready for a sharp change in position.

The modern method of treating scoliosis using the ApiFix system, which is used in Israel, allows you to correct the position of the spine using two fixators, which are installed during a short operation.

After that, the patients practically do not feel any discomfort, within 2 months the spine gradually aligns, and the ligaments and muscles are strengthened. Hospitalization after the procedure lasts no longer than a week.

• Vertebroplasty is a surgical intervention with the introduction of special substances from the "bone cement" series into the damaged bone tissue of the vertebra.
• Laser puncture denucleation (vaporization) is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of intervertebral hernia. The process is carried out under X-ray control. The patient under the influence of local anesthesia is punctured to the very nucleus of the affected disc, to which a special light guide with laser radiation is passed.

Under the action of a laser, the nucleus is reduced and the nerve endings are released. This ultimately leads to a reduction in pain and other symptoms already during the operation. The full effect is achieved in a few days.

• Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive operation recommended to relieve pressure on nerve endings in case of displacement of the spinal disc and in case of intervertebral hernia. During the operation, the neurosurgeon makes an external incision of 2.5 cm, gently spreads the muscles, and with the help of endoscopic instruments, partially or completely removes the intervertebral disc.

This is a safe and effective method, unlike conventional discectomy, where the surgeon needs to make a 7-10 cm incision, which leads to bleeding and other complications. After microdiscectomy, patients do not feel severe pain and recover faster.

• Surgical treatment of spinal cancer: The process of tumor removal is carried out using intraoperative electrophysiological control, which helps prevent dysfunctions of the spinal cord.

Also, for malignant neoplasms of the spine in Israel, they use the method of stereotaxic radiofrequency electrosurgery - a minimally invasive procedure, during which pathological cells are destroyed with the help of radiofrequency radiation.

Methods of Spine Surgeries in Israel

• Minimally invasive spinal surgery in Israel is a modern type of technique that is designed to minimize surgical traumas as much as possible. It does not require extensive incision and large cuts to be made. There is very little blood loss during this procedure and the recovery is quite rapid.

Many surgical techniques fall into the category of minimally invasive surgery, some of which are:

1. Nucleoplasty procedure
2. Epiduroscopy
3. Endoscopy

• Endoscopic scoliosis surgery in Israel is also a type of minimally invasive surgery. In scoliosis, vertebrae become abnormally curved thus surgeons perform an operation in order to fuse the vertebrae. Endoscopic surgery is one of the best procedures for scoliosis treatment in Israel. In endoscopic scoliosis surgery very few and small incisions are made at the back. Tiny rods and screws are placed to fuse the vertebrae.
• Non-invasive spinal surgery in Israel: The noninvasive procedures are non-surgical procedures as no tools and cuts in the skin are made. It is also known as the conservative method. Non-invasive spinal decompression is an example of these procedures.
• In spinal decompression, the spine is physically stretched which causes the pressure on nerves and discs to decrease leading to retraction of bulging discs. These procedures usually include rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Complications of Spine Surgery

Before starting the surgery Israeli spine surgeons discuss the complications that are linked with spinal surgeries. The complications of spine surgeries often depend on your health, any other medical condition, age, etc. Some of the complications include:

• There are a few complications like stroke, heart arrest, damage to the brain with the anesthesia used during the surgery. However, such types of complications seldom occur.
• During the surgery, if a major blood vessel is cut it can lead to profuse bleeding
• A dural tear may occur during the surgery which your surgeon immediately repairs. However, if it is not repaired in such a case it can cause the leaking of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Other complications are blood clotting, infections, etc.

Recovering after a Spine Surgery & Rehab after Spine Surgery in Israel

The time of recovery after spine surgery is determined based on:

• The spine surgery time for example if you had a spine fusion in that you’ll be back to your old routine in about a month or a month and a half. Whereas on the other hand if you had a let’s say laminectomy that you will need more time to recover which is around 6-8 weeks.
• Your spine condition, depending on what type of spine condition you were diagnosed with before the surgery

However, Israeli Spine Surgeons recommend that you get sessions of physiotherapy which will help you to move again. Clinics in Israel have special rehab programs where physiotherapists work with the patient to prevent any future spine issues. Some of these exercises include:

• Walking helps to improve the blood flow throughout your body and also helps to keep your spine in an upright position
• Posture correction to make sure that the lower part of your spine is in the right position and to help the lumbar region heal.
• Leg raises enhance the stability of the lower spine and helps to give stability to it
• Lumbar flexion exercises stretch the muscles of your lower back and improve the lumbar flexion

Once the sessions are complete you will have to visit your doctor after a few weeks to make sure that you are doing fine.

Best Spine Surgery Hospitals in Israel

Some of the famous spine surgery centers in Israel are listed below:

Ichilov Hospital

Ichilov is the largest medical center in Tel-Aviv. It was opened in 1963 and has around 11,70 beds. Spine surgery is performed under the neurosurgery department, which is considered a leading neurosurgery facility not only in Israel but is also internationally recognized.

They provide multidisciplinary care from diagnosis to rehabilitation, also the highly skilled doctors use innovative approaches along with the use of state of art equipment which results in a high success rate of many spine surgeries performed at the department.

Hadassah Hospital

Today Hadassah hospital is the largest medical institution in Israel, where all types of diagnostic and treatment services for spinal disorders are provided.

In the Hadassah clinic (Israel), treatment is carried out in accordance with the requirements of international medical protocols. The hospital uses modern diagnostic protocols.  Initially, the patient is received by the leading physician, who, on the basis of the information received and examination, draws up a further protocol of laboratory and instrumental studies.

The latest medical technologies for minimally invasive spine surgery make it possible to perform interventions in Hadassah without profuse blood loss and the need for long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

Hundreds of thousands of patients from different countries come here for spine surgery since the Hadassah clinic in Israel has a number of undeniable advantages:

• Innovative surgical and non-surgical methods of spine surgery.
• Modern neurosurgical technologies, MRI navigation, and other systems for surgical treatment of pathologies of the spinal cord and brain

Assuta Medical Center

Surgical treatment of the spine here is carried out by methods of hydrodiscectomy (removal of a hernia using a powerful jet of water), fixation of the vertebrae using self-expanding titanium implants, cold plasma nucleoplasty.

Best Spinal Surgeons in Israel

• Prof. Zvi Ram is the director of the department at Ichilov medical center with experience of 18 years. He is one of the a-list doctors for spine surgery in Israel.

• Dr. Kandel Arye Leonid is a famous spine surgeon and orthopedist at Hadassah hospital with experience of about more than 20 years.