Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Prof. Zvi Cohen is Director of the Neurosurgery Department and the Neuro-Oncology Unit at Sheba Medical Center. He is a neurosurgeon and neuro-oncology expert. He was included in Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors 2025. He leads clinical research on drug therapies for malignant brain tumors. He also founded Sheba’s brain tumor tissue bank.
He is board-certified in neurosurgery. He trained at Tel Aviv University. He completed fellowships in neuroradiology at Beth Israel and in neurosurgical oncology at MD Anderson. His practice covers complex brain, pituitary, spine, and spinal cord tumors. He has expertise in stereotactic biopsies, image-guided resections, intraoperative MRI, navigation systems, and radiosurgery. He is a member of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the Israeli Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Non-surgical treatments for spinal stenosis in Israel focus on advanced physical therapy and targeted pain intervention. Specialists prioritize conservative management to avoid surgery for 80% of patients. Protocols include McKenzie method exercises and epidural steroid injections in JCI-accredited facilities like Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli specialists like Professor Zvi Lidar often integrate biomechanical research into conservative plans. Data from leading centers shows that the most successful non-surgical outcomes combine clinical PT with ergonomic adjustments. Patients at Sourasky Medical Center benefit from this multidisciplinary approach. It often delays or removes the need for laminectomy entirely.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that combining twice-weekly physical therapy with weight management can reduce pain by 70%. Many emphasize starting with water-based exercises to relieve back pressure before trying injections.
Spinal stenosis surgery in Israel is recommended when non-surgical treatments fail to manage severe pain after 3 to 7 months. Surgeons prioritize intervention for patients showing progressive neurological deficits, such as muscle weakness or foot drop. Immediate surgery is required for emergency symptoms like loss of bladder control.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgeons like Dr. Zvi Lidar at Sourasky Medical Center often utilize specialized miniature approaches for decompression. While many systems have long waitlists, private facilities like Assuta Medical Center perform over 92,000 annual operations with significantly shorter lead times. This high surgical volume allows specialists to refine techniques for complex degenerative cases that require both decompression and stabilization.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli specialists often favor surgery over prolonged physical therapy once functional loss begins. Many recommend keeping a detailed log of walking distances and pain levels to help surgeons determine the precise timing for intervention.
Israeli surgeons utilize advanced minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques for spinal stenosis. Procedures like Mazor X stealth addition and lumbar microdiscectomy prioritize precision and smaller incisions. These methods reduce recovery times and physical trauma for patients treated in JCI-accredited facilities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many countries move quickly toward spinal fusion, leading Israeli specialists like Dr. Zvi Lidar at Sourasky Medical Center emphasize motion-preserving decompression. Data from top clinics shows complex spinal departments like Assuta perform 92,000 operations annually. This high volume allows surgeons to maintain expertise in `tiny spine` protocols that avoid heavy hardware when possible.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that surgeons often require 3–6 months of physical therapy before recommending surgery. Those undergoing minimally invasive procedures report returning to light activities in approximately 2–4 weeks.
Israel is home to JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center. These facilities utilize robotic surgery and digital imaging for spinal stenosis. Leading neurosurgeons including Dr. Zvi Lidar specialize in minimally invasive techniques. They treat over 1,000,000 patients annually with high success.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many focus on clinic size, our data shows a specialization gap. Sourasky Medical Center employs over 2,200 doctors and maintains 240 specialized departments. This scale allows surgeons like Prof. Shimon Rochkind to focus exclusively on microsurgery and laser technologies. Patients benefit from this narrow expertise which is rare in smaller private facilities.
Patient Consensus: Patients often praise the quick recovery following minimally invasive laminectomies at Jerusalem centers. Many note that while public hospitals are top-tier, using specialized services helps navigate local hospital bureaucracy more efficiently.
Success rates for spinal stenosis treatment in Israel are high. Patients typically experience 60% to 80% improvement in leg pain and numbness within 6 months. Israeli facilities like Sourasky Medical Center report a 90% success rate in neurosurgical procedures via minimally invasive techniques.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgeons often hold dual certifications from the USA and Israel. Professor Zvi Lidar at Sourasky Medical Center is a prime example. This international training explains why these clinics lead in tiny spine surgery. Patients should prioritize doctors with over 50 scientific publications. This academic depth often correlates with higher proficiency in emerging laser microsurgeries.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that relief for leg pain is often dramatic and immediate. However, many emphasize that leg weakness can persist for over 6 weeks during recovery.
Success rates for spinal stenosis surgery in Israel range between 70% and 98%. Leading facilities like Sourasky Medical Center report survival and success figures up to 98% for complex neurosurgery. Outcomes depend on the specific technique used and the patient’s baseline physical health.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Australian patients find unique value at Hadassah Medical Center. Dr Andry Key, who previously headed neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, operates there. This level of Australian-specific clinical leadership simplifies the transition for patients accustomed to Melbourne’s surgical standards.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that surgery works best for leg numbness and walking issues rather than just back pain. They emphasize that while mobility improves quickly, long-term nerve damage may only partially resolve in Israel.
Israeli spine specialists use robotic-assisted navigation and minimally invasive techniques to treat spinal stenosis with extreme precision. Surgeons employ real-time 3D imaging and miniature surgical approaches. This allows for decompression and nerve repair through incisions smaller than 2.5 cm while preserving healthy back muscles.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israel's leadership in spine surgery is driven by doctors who both develop and use the technology. Dr Zvi Lidar at Sourasky Medical Center is a researcher and developer of miniature approach spine surgery. This provides patients with access to refinements in surgical tools before they reach the global market.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli centres specialise in complex revision cases and multi-level stenosis. They appreciate the focus on decompression over fusion, which helps maintain mobility and leads to faster recovery times after hospital discharge.
Leading spinal stenosis specialists in Israel include Dr Ilya Pekarsky at Assuta and Prof Zvi Lidar at Sourasky. These surgeons provide advanced decompression and laminectomy procedures. They often use robotic assistance for complex cases. Most patients achieve significant pain relief and improved mobility.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Australian patients may find a smoother transition home by choosing specialists with direct AU experience. Dr Andry Key at Hadassah Medical Center previously headed neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. This familiarity with Australian standards is rare. It helps ensure your post-operative reports align perfectly with what your local GP expects during recovery.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Israel recommend checking a surgeon's specific volume for lumbar cases and seeking a second opinion before fusions. They note it is important to confirm who will manage your wound care and scans once back in Australia.
Patients typically require 14 to 21 days of local recovery in Israel before receiving a Fit to Fly certificate. JCI-accredited centres like Sourasky and Assuta Medical Center specialise in minimally invasive decompressions. These advanced techniques often allow hospital discharge within 24 to 48 hours.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Australian patients find a unique advantage at Hadassah Medical Center, where neurosurgery is led by Dr Andry Key. He was formerly the Head of Neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. This familiarity with Australian clinical standards and terminology provides a seamless transition for post-operative care and follow-up once patients return home to Australia.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that leg symptoms often improve quickly, but advise that stamina returns slowly over several weeks. Travellers should expect limited sitting tolerance and should secure a written rehabilitation plan before departing Israel.
Israel offers advanced non-surgical options for spinal stenosis, including MRI-guided focused ultrasound and regenerative therapies. Leading facilities such as Sourasky Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center specialise in minimally invasive protocols. These treatments reduce nerve compression and inflammation without requiring major theatre procedures.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli specialists often provide second opinions that help patients avoid unnecessary surgery. Dr Andry Key at Hadassah Medical Center trained in Melbourne. This Australian connection simplifies the handover of medical records. Patients can often transition their rehabilitation plans back to Australian GPs more effectively after consulting AU-trained experts.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that combining core strengthening with specialist pain management works well in Israel. They emphasise monitoring walking distance to judge when conservative care needs upgrading.
Sourasky Medical Center, Hadassah Medical Center, and Assuta Medical Center are leading Israeli hospitals for spine surgery. These centres specialise in minimally invasive techniques and robotic navigation for spinal stenosis. JCI-accredited facilities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem deliver over 34,000 operations annually with success rates reaching 98%.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Australian patients benefit from doctors like Dr Andry Key at Hadassah, who was previously Head of Neurosurgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital. This shared clinical background means surgical approaches and post-operative standards often align closely with Australian expectations. Choosing specialists with local AU training can simplify the transfer of medical records back to your GP.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to confirm whether their specialist is a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic spine specialist. Experience in Israel focuses on finding surgeons who handle high volumes of specific decompression or fusion cases.