Israel develops minimally invasive innovative technique to remove painful spine tumor

Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv has developed a new minimally invasive medical technique that removes pain-causing spine tumors that will help patients in Israel and around the world.

Last year, 44-year-old Neta Margalit Auerbach benefited from the innovative procedure when she experienced intense pain.

"Out of nowhere, I was struck by intense pain along my entire left side. I couldn’t understand its origin and tried to alleviate it with medication. However, as soon as the medication wore off, the pain returned, forcing me to take more every four hours," Auerbach recalled.

"The pain would wake me up at night and persisted during the day, even while I was in my clinic treating patients. Whether sitting, standing, or walking, the pain was unbearable. To me, it felt like labor contractions in my leg," she said.

Auerbach was eventually diagnosed with schwannoma, a benign nerve tumor, and the neurosurgeon recommended that she undergo an open surgery with spinal fusion.

"I sought a second opinion and was relieved to learn that at Sourasky Medical Center, this type of tumor can be removed using a minimally invasive approach,” Auerbach recalled.

Prof. Zvi Lidar, director of the Spinal Surgery Unit at the Sourasky, explained the origin of the schwannoma tumor.

"These tumors originate from nerve tissue. Although they are benign in most cases, they can cause significant pain and suffering," Lidar said.

"Schwannomas are soft tissue masses that can sometimes be detected during a physical examination as part of identifying the source of pain. They are highly sensitive – so much so that even a light touch can trigger an electric shock-like sensation along the affected limb," Lidar continued. The tumor often causes pain in the back, leg, arm, spine or abdomen.

"This benign tumor can grow either inside the spinal canal or outside it, near the spine. If left undiagnosed, it can cause paralysis in half of the body. When the schwannoma develops outside the spinal canal, it can lead to partial paralysis along the limb or within the quadriceps muscle," he warned.

He further explained that traditional medical procedures to remove the tumor are both painful and time-consuming, which undermines the long-term health of the patient.

"During this time wasted on treating a localized issue that is actually nerve-related, the schwannoma continues to grow, exerting pressure on the nerve. As a result, sensation in the area diminishes, muscle function is impaired, and in severe cases, paralysis can occur. This delay in diagnosis can lead to irreversible nerve damage," Lidar stated.

"Traditionally, accessing a schwannoma requires removing the spinal joint, which can cause instability between the vertebrae, necessitating stabilization with screws. The minimally invasive approach eliminates the need for these steps," he concluded.

Israel plays a key role in global medical research and cutting-edge treatments.

In September 2023, Newsweek magazine ranked Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv as one of the world’s 20 leading “smart hospitals.”

“We are committed to continuing to lead in the development and implementation of medical innovation, in clinical research and in treatment to meet the medical challenges of the coming decade,” Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, director-general of Sheba Medical Center stated at the time.

Israeli startups are also innovating medical technologies that allow patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes. For example, the Israeli startup Belong-Life has developed an AI-powered application that helps cancer patients manage their illness with advanced self-support tools from home.