Roie Sal, a former Golani Brigade soldier, suffered a life-altering injury 25 years ago that led to chronic pain and eventual leg amputation. “My leg was shattered,” he recalls. “I underwent dozens of surgeries and devices like the Ilizarov frame. At 19, they said amputation was necessary, but I refused. Soccer was my life—I was determined to save my leg and wouldn’t give up.”
Diagnosed with CRPS, a chronic, irreversible nerve condition causing severe suffering, Sal endured over 20 years of rehabilitation and repeated procedures before opting for amputation. “I thought it’d be a simple fix, but the pain persisted. My leg had been traumatized for years,” he said. The surgery triggered further nerve complications, including neuromas at the stump.
A year ago, Sal began treatment at Sourasky Medical Center’s pioneering multidisciplinary clinic for amputees, a move he credits with transforming his life. “Suddenly, I’m sitting with a whole team—plastic surgeon, orthopedist, nerve specialist—all in one room, figuring out how to help me.
“It wasn’t just one doctor; it felt like a ‘war room’ where everyone pitched in, fast and effectively. I’m in a long process, especially with the nerve issue and I’m thrilled to be at Ichilov and meet Dr. Yaron. I’ve loved soccer my whole life, and now I play for Israel’s amputee soccer team.
“It’s the best kind of rehabilitation, good for the soul. I urge other amputees to join; it brings life back,” he said. The clinic, Israel’s first of its kind, opened recently to serve both combat veterans and civilian victims.
Dr. Yaron Or MorPhoto: Lior Tzur, Sourasky Medical CenterDr. Yaron Or Mor, an orthopedics specialist at the hospital, told Ynet in an interview, “The need arose from the war; that’s where this project took off.” The surge in referrals since October 7, 2023, underscored a long-standing demand for comprehensive, rapid care for amputees.
Previously, patients navigated multiple departments for various treatments, but the new clinic offers all services in one room, uniting experts in orthopedics, plastic surgery, neurology, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and prosthetics under a holistic approach.
Modeled after systems in the U.S. and Australia, it reflects lessons from recent fighting rounds and is part of a broader initiative to establish a National Center for Amputation & Reconstruction.
This marks a significant advancement for Israel’s thousands of amputees—many of whom, affected by road accidents, severe illnesses or combat injuries, previously sought advanced care abroad, often in the U.S., facing isolation and distance from family during recovery.
Dr. Or Mor highlighted how the war in Gaza reshaped amputation care. “We’ve started osseointegration surgeries—performed for over 20 years in the U.S. and Australia but new to Israel. A metal pin is implanted into the bone, replacing the traditional socket, creating a direct link to the prosthesis for better function,” he explained.
The clinic also offers advanced nerve surgeries like TMR and RPNI to reduce phantom pain and improve prosthetic control, revision surgeries to enhance soft tissue and bone, and chronic pain treatments using cutting-edge technology.
Collaboration across disciplines, dubbed “ortho-plastic” surgery, drives efficiency. “I work shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Daniel Kedar, a limb reconstruction plastic surgeon, to optimize outcomes in initial amputations, stump revisions and osseointegration,” Or Mor said.
The clinic’s physiotherapy and rehabilitation include stump shaping, skin and tissue care, personalized training, a rehab gym and a therapeutic pool. Patients slated for surgery are sometimes pre-admitted to the rehabilitation ward, recognizing that recovery begins before the procedure.
Dozens of patients—soldiers, police and Israel’s amputee soccer team members—have received end-to-end care, from pain management to restored mobility and independence.