The Unit for
Lower and Upper Back Pain,
Neck Pain, Herniated Disc and
The Spinal Column Problems
The Department of Orthopedics
Was recognized by the CAOS International
As a
Center of Excellence for
Computer Assisted
Orthopaedic Surgery
www.caos-international.org.
Background
Back pain is one of the most significant causes of morbidity in the population. Approximately 80% of all people suffer from at least one episode of back pain during their lifetime. 15% suffer from back pain at any given time and 2-5% suffer from chronic back pain. However back pain is only one of the phenomena caused as a result of spinal column problems.
Medical Problems Treated by the Unit
The Back Unit of the Hadassah Department of Orthopedics is prepared to deal with a wide range of back problems involving multiple disciplines.
Degenerative problems related to morbidity of the intervertebral discs, deterioration of the joints between spinal vertebra, and narrowing of the spinal canal are the most common.
Spinal distortion (scoliosis, kyphosis) which generally appears during childhood and is related to other diseases is prevalent, but less common.
As in all skeletal systems, the spinal column is exposed to trauma and tumor processes. These and other problems are treated by the Back Unit.
Treatment Methods
Back problems are generally treated by a combination of physical therapy, physiological and drug treatments, and treatments in the pain clinic. A minority of patients require surgical interventions which are performed in the unit.
Back and spinal surgery performed in the unit include: scoliosis straightening; disc prosthesis transplants; slipped disc resection; intervertebral fusion; tumor resection; treatments using percutaneous techniques (in cases of osteoporosis fractures); vertebral fracture fixation as a result of accidents; and mechanical disc transplants. Recently the unit's physicians have also begun to use computer technology.
The Unit's physicians work in close cooperation with Hadassah's Physical Therapy Institute and the Pain Clinic as well as the Imaging Unit allowing for some of the most advanced imaging techniques including X-ray, MRI, CT, and nuclear medicine.
In order to advance treatment quality provided to back patients, the unit's physicians participate in basic clinical research and research which seeks to develop new treatments and treatment methods.
The Unit's physicians participate in frequent professional workshops and continuing education programs in order to offer their patients some of the world's most advanced treatments.
The Unit's Physicians
Dr. Leon Kaplan
Dr. Amir Hasharoni
Dr. Yigal Bronstein
Dr. Yair Barzilay
Clinic Hours
Hadassah Ein Kerem: