Zvi Cohen

New
32 years of experience
Location: Israel, Ramat Gan
Clinic:
5.0
Sheba Medical Center
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.
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Bookimed Insights: Top Spinal cord abscess Specialists in Israel (2026)

Bookimed has coordinated 1 requests for Spinal cord abscess treatment in Israel, collaborating with 1 top-rated specialists. The doctors in this table are selected based on their international credentials, clinical expertise, and patient outcomes. The 2026 ranking is formed using verified data from actual patient cases and current programs from our partner clinics.

Rank	Doctor	experience	Good Fit For	What Sets Them Apart	Clinic & Location	Consultation

FAQ

These FAQs come from real patients seeking medical assistance through Bookimed. Answers are given by experienced medical coordinators and trusted clinic representatives.

Which hospitals and specialists are most experienced in treating spinal cord abscess in Israel?

Israeli tertiary centers like Tel Aviv Sourasky and Sheba Medical Center provide specialized neurosurgical care for spinal cord abscesses. These facilities feature JCI-accredited departments and multidisciplinary teams. Highly experienced specialists perform emergency decompressions to ensure optimal neurological recovery and prevent permanent paralysis.

Specialized surgical teams: Neurosurgeons at Sourasky perform over 2,500 operations annually for complex conditions.
Leading neurosurgeons: Professors Shimon Rochkind and Zvi Ram specialize in minimally invasive spine surgery.
Advanced diagnostics: High-resolution MRI and biochemical blood analysis are standard for rapid infection mapping.
Multidisciplinary protocols: Treatment combines neurosurgical drainage with 6–8 weeks of intensive infectious disease management.

Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Sheba and Hadassah are uniquely structured to manage the critical 24-hour window for spinal infections. While many facilities offer neurosurgery, these centers integrate infectious disease specialists and dedicated spinal rehabilitation units within the same complex. This structural integration is likely why they maintain a high global rank for complex neurosurgical cases.

Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize that securing an immediate MRI and neurosurgical consult is life-critical when fever mirrors sudden back pain. Many note that preparing for several weeks of IV antibiotics and early physical therapy is essential for regaining mobility.

Is surgery always required for spinal cord abscess, and what procedures are used?

Surgery for spinal cord abscess is not always required. Physicians may treat stable patients with intravenous antibiotics alone. Urgent surgery is essential if symptoms like weakness develop. Israeli neurosurgeons use decompressive laminectomy or needle aspiration to relieve pressure and drain infections.

Conservative criteria: Small abscesses without neurological decline often respond to prolonged antibiotic therapy.
Decompressive laminectomy: Surgeons remove bone to decompress the spinal cord for safe evacuation.
Skip laminectomies: This technique drains multi-level infections while preserving the spine's structural stability.
Needle aspiration: CT-guided drainage offers a minimally invasive option for high-risk surgical candidates.
Endoscopic methods: Specialized tools allow tissue-sparing debridement to speed up patient recovery times.

Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgical departments like Sourasky Medical Center manage extremely high volumes of complex cases. They perform over 34,000 surgeries annually. Our data shows that top professors like Dr. Margalit Navo use intraoperative MRI navigation. This technology allows for precise drainage while protecting healthy spinal tissue. This level of precision is critical when treating infections near delicate nerve roots.

Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize asking for specific measurements of spinal cord compression. They note that starting physical rehabilitation immediately after surgery is vital for regaining full mobility.

What antibiotics are given for spinal cord abscess in Israeli hospitals?

Israeli hospitals provide intensive antibiotic therapy for spinal cord abscesses to target Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative pathogens. Treatment starts with vancomycin paired with third or fourth-generation cephalosporins. Early neurosurgical consultation is standard practice at JCI-accredited centers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Standard empiric regimen: Vancomycin covers MRSA while third-generation cephalosporins address gram-negative bacteria.
Broad-spectrum alternatives: Piperacillin/tazobactam provides extensive coverage for post-surgical infections or Pseudomonas risks.
Duration of therapy: Intravenous treatment typically lasts 4 to 8 weeks for complete eradication.
Surgical integration: Antibiotics complement emergency laminectomy and drainage performed by specialized spinal surgeons.

Bookimed Expert Insight: While general protocols are standard, top centers like Sourasky Medical Center utilize intraoperative MRI and navigation systems during drainage. These technologies ensure complete abscess clearance. This precision often allows for a faster transition to oral antibiotics like ciprofloxacin after the initial 2 weeks.

Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of involving an infectious disease specialist early to guide culture-specific drug changes. Many note that combining high-dose antibiotics with prompt surgical drainage is the key to preventing a relapse.

How is spinal cord abscess diagnosed in Israeli clinics, and what tests are used?

Israeli clinics diagnose spinal cord abscesses using Gadolinium-enhanced MRI as the primary imaging standard. This test maintains sensitivity above 90% for detecting lesions. Specialists combine these scans with inflammatory blood markers and microbial cultures to confirm infection and identify causative bacteria for targeted treatment.

Imaging standard: Gadolinium-enhanced MRI reveals ring-enhancing lesions and spinal cord compression.
Laboratory workup: Blood panels track elevated C-reactive protein and white blood cells.
Microbial identification: Cultures from blood or aspirated abscess fluid guide antibiotic selection.
Diagnostic alternative: CT with myelography is used only if MRI is contraindicated.

Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgeons prioritize speed because delayed diagnosis impacts recovery. Hospitals like Sourasky Medical Center manage 400,000+ annual patients and utilize intraoperative MRI. This allows surgeons like Professor Shimon Rochkind, who has 35+ years of experience, to confirm abscess removal in real-time. Choosing a high-volume center ensures 24/7 access to advanced imaging and specialized surgical teams.

Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize that sudden weakness combined with fever should trigger an immediate MRI request. They note that blood tests indicating high infection markers are often the first step toward getting necessary imaging.

What is the expected recovery and long-term outlook after spinal cord abscess treatment?

Recovery after spinal cord abscess treatment depends heavily on how quickly decompression surgery occurs. Israeli neurosurgeons report that intervention within 24 hours significantly boosts neurological outcomes. Long-term survival is approximately 86% over 5 years. Most functional gains occur within 18 months post-surgery.

Functional recovery: Up to 92% of patients regain independent walking with early treatment.
Antibiotic duration: Patients typically undergo 4 to 8 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy.
Neurological deficits: Approximately 20% to 40% of patients experience residual motor weakness or pain.
Recurrence risk: The infection returns in about 6.6% of cases, requiring long-term monitoring.

Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli centers like Sourasky Medical Center leverage intraoperative MRI and navigation systems for abscess drainage. These technologies help surgeons avoid damaging healthy nerve tissue during emergency procedures. Data suggests that choosing high-volume academic clinics, which treat over 1,000,000 patients annually, ensures access to 24/7 specialized neuro-rehabilitation experts immediately after surgery.

Patient Consensus: Patients note that nerve healing is very slow and emphasize starting aggressive aquatic therapy or nerve stimulation early. Most describe adapting to a new normal while celebrating partial wins like regained bladder control or reduced spasticity.

Are there any regenerative or novel treatments for spinal cord injuries being studied in Israel?

Israel is a primary global hub for regenerative spinal cord research. Breakthroughs include functional 3D human spinal cord tissue implants and the world’s first personalized neural scaffolds. Leading institutions like Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University study these novel treatments to restore nerve connections.

Tissue engineering: Functional 3D neural networks currently utilize a patient's own cellular material.
Stem cell therapy: Mesenchymal stem cells are enhanced to secrete growth factors for nerve repair.
Exoskeleton technology: AI-driven brain-spine interfaces decode movement thoughts with approximately 93% accuracy.
Clinical status: Several protocols have moved from successful animal trials to human compassionate use.

Bookimed Expert Insight: While Sheba Medical Center is a leader in clinical trials, many patients overlook the research depth at Sourasky Medical Center. Dr. Zvi Ram at Sourasky focuses specifically on gene-based therapies and novel surgical techniques. This indicates that Israel's innovation is not limited to stem cells but includes advanced genetic and bioengineering approaches across its top-ranked institutions.

Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize that these treatments remain experimental and results vary significantly between individuals. Many advise verifying trial phases through official registries and focusing on infection clearance before pursuing regenerative options for abscess-related injuries.

Best Spinal cord abscess doctors in Ramat Gan: TOP 1 doctor

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