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 by spinal column injuries or diseases.
Diseases and Injuries
The Back Unit of the Hadassah Department of Orthopedics treats a wide range of back problems. These problems most commonly include degenerative conditions related to morbidity of the intervertebral discs, deterioration of the joints between spinal vertebra, and narrowing of the spinal canal. Spinal distortion (scoliosis, kyphosis), generally appearing during childhood and related to other diseases, is prevalent, but less common. As in all skeletal systems, the spinal column is exposed to trauma and tumorous growths. These and other problems are treated by the Back Unit.
Treatment Methods
Back problems are generally treated by a combination of physical therapy, physiological treatments, medication, and treatment in the pain clinic. A small percentage of patients require surgical intervention, which are performed in the unit.
Back and spinal surgery performed in the unit includes: 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 our physicians have also begun to use computer technology.
The Back Unit physicians work in close cooperation with Hadassah's Physical Therapy Institute and the Pain Clinic as well as the Imaging Unit. This cooperation enables our doctors to employ the most advanced imaging techniques such as X-ray, MRI, CT, and nuclear medicine.
In order to provide the best quality treatment for our patients, the physicians participate in basic clinical research and studies which research new treatment methods.The physicians participate in a number of professional workshops and continuing education programs in order to offer their patients some of the world's most advanced treatments.
Physicians