The microsurgery and orthoplasty unit

The Microsurgery and Orthoplasty unit at the Sheba Medical Center holds the distinction of being the largest and most established facility of its kind in Israel. Hundreds of successful surgeries have been performed by our unit with high success rates. The unit is staffed by doctors specializing in plastic surgery, orthopedics and hand surgery. They collaborate on various surgical procedures, utilizing dedicated operating rooms staffed with highly trained nurses. Our unit's doctors also oversee a clinic where in-depth multidisciplinary discussions take place for each patient. 

 
What is microsurgery?

Microsurgery is a respected discipline of reconstructive surgery, often regarded as the epitome of surgical expertise and skill. The microsurgical specialty demands extensive training and coaching and is only offered in specialized centers. Microsurgical procedures deal with intricate structures (measuring mere millimeters or even less) such as blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.  Most of these procedures are performed under a microscope, using specialized instruments that require special storage and maintenance conditions.  These procedures employ microsurgical techniques to transfer tissue, such as muscle, skin, bone, and nerve tissue, from a healthy region of the body to the affected area. 

What is orthoplasty?

Orthoplastics is a specialized discipline that combines plastic surgery with orthopedic surgery in complex patients. Plastic surgery deals with soft tissue problems and orthopedic surgery deals with skeletal problems. Combining these two disciplines allows optimal care to be given to patients with complex limb injuries, leading to superior functional outcomes. 

What do we treat?

• Lack of bone in the upper and lower limbs
• Complex wounds on the upper and lower limbs
• Lack of fusion or improper fusion of bones in the upper and lower limbs
• Infections of long bones in the upper and lower limbs
• Diabetes complications and limb preservation

 
What are the main surgeries we perform?

• Complex breast reconstructions from the abdominal wall without the use of implants.
• Scalp, head and neck reconstructions, including facial bone and soft tissue reconstructions
• Complex coverage of chronic wounds after trauma, burns or infections
• Amputation
• Retransplantation of amputated limbs
• Transferring toes from the foot to the hand to restore function
• Bone grafting
• Muscle transfer for restoring function
• Peripheral nerve reconstruction (including nerve transfers and brachial plexus reconstruction)
• Gender-affirming surgeries (from female to male).
• Excision of tumors
• Correction of birth defects