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.