Dr. Yuval Shapira, MD

Leading Neurosurgeon — Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction and Microsurgery

Position: Head of Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction Unit; Deputy Head of Neurosurgery Department

Hospital: Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Ichilov

Dr. Yuval Shapira is in the Forbes list of the best Israeli doctors. He heads the only neurosurgical unit in Israel dedicated exclusively to microsurgical treatment of all peripheral nerve injuries throughout the body

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Peripheral Nerve Microsurgery

• Microsurgical reconstruction and release of peripheral nerves in the upper and lower limbs
• Brachial plexus reconstruction following trauma (brachial plexus injuries)
• Facial nerve reconstruction following injury
• Nerve grafting — autologous nerve graft transplantation for bridging nerve defects
• Nerve transfer, neurotization — redirecting functioning nerve branches to restore lost motor function
• Surgical treatment of neuromas causing neuropathic pain
• Surgical treatment of peripheral nerve sheath tumors – benign and malignant
• Resection and reconstruction of head and neck peripheral nerve sheath tumors (intracapsular technique)

Neuropathic Pain Surgery

• Surgical treatment of chronic neuropathic pain caused by nerve scarring, entrapment, or neuroma
• Management of postsurgical and posttraumatic neuromas, infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve
• Neurosurgical treatment of chronic knee pain from saphenous nerve neuroma

Combat & Trauma Nerve Surgery

• Treatment of penetrating peripheral nerve injuries from shrapnel and gunshot wounds
• Timing and decision-making in combat nerve injuries — when to operate and when to wait
• Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during nerve surgery

Research & Innovation

• Experimental models for peripheral nerve regeneration (rabbit sciatic nerve model)
• Evaluation of novel conduits, chitosan hollow tubes vs. autologous nerve grafts for nerve repair
• Core outcome set development for brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries (international COS consortium)
• MRI-based radiomics and deep learning for classification of peripheral nerve sheath tumors
• Brief electrical stimulation to accelerate nerve regeneration

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Education

Medical Degree

• MD — Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

Residency

• Residency in Neurosurgery — Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), Tel Aviv, Israel

Fellowship

• Advanced Clinical and Research Fellowship in Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction — Canada, which is one of North America’s leading centers in peripheral nerve surgery
  • Both clinical training and laboratory research
  • Upon return, appointed Head of the Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction Unit at Ichilov

Professional Experience of Neurosurgeon Yuval Shapira

• Residency: Neurosurgery Resident — Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
• Fellowship: Clinical and Research Fellow in Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction — Canada
• Current: Head, Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction and Brachial Plexus Microsurgery Unit — Neurosurgery Department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
  • Runs the only neurosurgical unit in Israel focused exclusively on peripheral nerve microsurgery
  • Receives referrals from hospitals across all of Israel
  • Works in close collaboration with orthopedic surgery and other surgical departments
  • Conducts clinical and basic science research in nerve regeneration for Research Center of Nerve Reconstruction, TASMC
• Current: Deputy Head, Neurosurgery Department  — Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
• October 2023 – ongoing: Treated severely wounded combat soldiers with complex peripheral nerve injuries at Ichilov

Selected Research and Publications 

1. Shapira Y, Tolmasov M, Nissan M, et al. “Comparison of results between chitosan hollow tube and autologous nerve graft in reconstruction of peripheral nerve defect: An experimental study.” Microsurgery; 36(8): 664–671. PubMed-indexed.
2. Shapira Y et al. (COINS Consortium). “Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries (COS-BPUE).” Journal of Neurosurgery. 2024; 141(2): 474. DOI: 10.3171/2023.11.JNS23. Multi-center international study.
3. Shapira Y et al. (COINS Consortium). “Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for sciatic injury and neuropathy evaluation (COS-SINE).” (PubMed/ResearchGate)
4. Shapira Y et al. (COINS Consortium). “Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy.” (PubMed/ResearchGate)
5. Shapira Y et al. “A Rabbit Model for Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction Studies Avoiding Automutilation Behavior.” Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury. 2022; 17(1): e22–e29. PMID: PMC9213117.
6. Shapira Y et al. “Functional outcome following intracapsular resection of head and neck peripheral nerve sheath tumors: A retrospective cohort.” (ResearchGate/PubMed)
7. Shapira Y et al. “Management of chronic knee pain caused by postsurgical or posttraumatic neuroma of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve.” (ResearchGate/PubMed)
8. Shapira Y et al. “MRI-based radiomics and deep learning for pre-operative classification of peripheral nerve sheath tumors.” (ResearchGate/PubMed)
9. Shapira Y et al. “Brain metastases and renal cell carcinoma affinity to the ventricular system and choroid plexus.” (ResearchGate)

Main Research Areas

• Peripheral nerve regeneration — experimental and clinical models
• Brachial plexus injury and reconstruction
• Core outcome set (COS) development for nerve surgery (international multi-center consortium)
• Peripheral nerve sheath tumors — surgical technique and functional outcomes
• Neuropathic pain — surgical treatment of neuromas
• Novel nerve conduits (chitosan tubes) vs. autologous nerve grafts
• Electrical stimulation for nerve regeneration

Professional Memberships & Appointments of Dr. Shapira

• World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) — Chairman, Peripheral Nerve Surgery Committee (appointed 2022)
  • The WFNS is the global body uniting all national neurosurgical associations worldwide
• Israeli Neurosurgical Association  — Member
• Israeli Medical Association — Member
• COINS Consortium (Core Outcomes In Nerve Surgery) — International consortium member; contributed to multiple COS development studies for peripheral nerve surgery

Languages

• Hebrew 
• English 

Awards & Recognition

• Appointed Chairman of the Peripheral Nerve Surgery Committee, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) — 2022
• Heads the only neurosurgical peripheral nerve microsurgery unit in Israel — a nationally designated referral center
• Invited expert and author in multiple international multi-center nerve surgery core outcome set (COS) studies published in the Journal of Neurosurgery
• Treated complex nerve injuries of severely wounded combat soldiers during the Iron Swords War (2023–ongoing) — featured in national media (Ynet, June 2024)

Notable Clinical Facts about Neurosurgeon Yuval Shapira

• The Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction and Brachial Plexus Microsurgery Unit at Ichilov is the only neurosurgical center in Israel that performs microsurgical nerve reconstruction across all nerves of the body — patients are referred from hospitals nationwide.
• The unit uses intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring (real-time nerve conduction tracking) during all nerve surgeries.
• Surgical navigation technology (“GPS of the body”) is used during complex nerve procedures.
• During the Iron Swords War, Dr. Shapira refined clinical protocols for timing of nerve surgery in penetrating combat injuries — recognizing that early surgery is often harmful and that waiting for wound healing before nerve repair maximizes outcomes.
• Treated Yadin Galman, a severely injured combat soldier, using nerve transfer techniques to restore elbow flexion after upper limb nerve damage.

For patients looking for expert neurosurgical care in Israel, Dr. Yuval Shapira provides second opinion consultations and tailored treatment strategies for peripheral nerve injuries, nerve reconstruction, complex neurosurgical conditions, and microsurgical procedures.