Healthcare with Confidence
Leading Neurosurgeon in Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction, Microsurgery & Laser Photobiomodulation in Israel
Position:Head of Microsurgical Center for Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction
Hospital: Assuta Medical Centers, Tel Aviv
Prof. Shimon Rochkind is in the Forbes list of the best Israeli doctors. He is one of the world’s leading pioneers in neurosurgery and microsurgery, specializing in the reconstruction of peripheral nerves in adults and children. Professor Shimon holds 11 international patents, has authored over 80 clinical and research papers and 31 book chapters, and has received 7 international and 3 national awards for his contributions to clinical and fundamental research.
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Peripheral Nerve Microsurgery
- Microsurgical reconstruction and release of peripheral nerves — complete and partial injuries
- Brachial plexus reconstruction following trauma (adults and children)
- Cauda equina and lumbar/sacral spine nerve surgery
- Facial nerve reconstruction using split hypoglossal nerve technique (with preservation of tongue function)
- Endoscopic surgery of peripheral nerves
- Nerve entrapment neuropathy surgery
- Painful neuroma — microsurgical treatment
- Disc disease surgery and tumors of peripheral nerves, brachial plexus, cauda equina, and spinal cord
- Restoration of sensitivity in body areas following peripheral nerve injury
Laser Photobiomodulation as Experienced Pioneer
- Clinical development and application of laser phototherapy (780 nm) for peripheral nerve injuries
- Laser photobiomodulation for spinal cord injury treatment and regeneration
- Intraoperative and postoperative laser treatment of peripheral nerve procedures
- Low-power laser irradiation (LPLI) for prevention of scar formation and acceleration of nerve regeneration
Biotechnology & Regenerative Medicine Research
- Tissue engineering for peripheral nerve and spinal cord reconstruction
- Development of innovative Reviving Matrix — Anti-gliotic Guiding Regenerative Gel (GRG) for reconstruction of severely injured peripheral nerve and spinal cord
- Experimental and clinical development of artificial nerve and spinal cord implants
- Embryonal spinal cord cell implantation for traumatic paraplegia repair (rat model)
Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Peripheral nerve reconstruction in children
- Pediatric neurosurgical procedures (trained at Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto)
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Education of Prof. Rochkind
Medical Degree
- MD (with Honors) — Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, 1975
- Graduated with distinction (Honors Degree)
Doctoral Degree
- PhD — Bar-Ilan University, Israel
- Dissertation: “Effect of laser phototherapy on acetylcholine receptors and creatine phosphokinase content in simulated muscle”
Residency & Specialization
- Residency in Neurosurgery — Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Ivano-Frankivsk, USSR (1976–1978)
- Specialization in Neurosurgery — Rambam Medical Center , Haifa, Israel (1979–1981)
- Specialization in Neurosurgery — Tel Aviv Medical Center (Ichilov), Tel Aviv, Israel (1981–1988)
- Board certification in Neurosurgery completed — 1988/1989
International Fellowships & Advanced Training
- Fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery — Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada (1988–1990)
- Fellowship in Brachial Plexus & Peripheral Nerves — Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa (1992)
- Fellowship in Brachial Plexus Reconstruction — Oguri Daihachi Hospital, Japan (2003)
- Fellowship in Endoscopic Surgery of Peripheral Nerves — University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany (2006)
Professional Experience of Neurosurgeon Shimon Rochkind
- 1976–1978: Neurosurgery Resident — Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Ivano-Frankivsk, USSR
- 1979–1981: Neurosurgery Resident — Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
- 1981–1988: Neurosurgery Resident/Senior — Tel Aviv Medical Center (Ichilov), Tel Aviv
- 1988–1990: Fellowship — Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada (Pediatric Neurosurgery)
- 1990–2000: Senior Physician, Department of Neurosurgery — Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
- 1992: Fellowship — Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa (Brachial Plexus & Peripheral Nerves)
- 1996–1998: President, World Association of Laser Treatments (WALT)
- 2001–2020: Founder and Director, Division for Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction — Neurosurgery Department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) / Tel Aviv University
- Founded the only dedicated peripheral nerve reconstruction division at Ichilov
- Simultaneously headed the Translational Medicine and Clinical Research Center for Nerve Reconstruction (from 2010)
- 2003: Fellowship — Oguri Daihachi Hospital, Japan (Brachial Plexus Reconstruction)
- 2006: Fellowship — University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany (Endoscopic Peripheral Nerve Surgery)
- 2010 – present: Head, Translational Medicine & Research Center for Nerve Reconstruction — Ichilov / Tel Aviv University
- 2014 – present: Associate Professor (clinical track) — Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
- 2018–2019: President, Sunderland Society (international peripheral nerve surgery society)
- 2021 – present: Head, Microsurgical Center for Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction — Assuta Medical Centers, Tel Aviv
- Ongoing: Senior Lecturer — Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
- Ongoing: Major (Reserve), IDF Medical Corps
Selected Research & Publications of Prof. Shimon Rochkind
Author of over 80 clinical and research papers (77 articles, 7 review articles, 4 case studies, 15 proceedings), 31 book chapters. Editor of 3 international medical and scientific journals. Member of the editorial board of 5 international journals. Reviewer for 34 international medical and scientific journals.
- Rochkind S. “Photobiomodulation in Neuroscience: A Summary of Personal Experience.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2017 Nov; 35(11):604–615. PMID: 29099679.
- Rochkind S. “Laser Photobiomodulation in Neuroscience: From Bench to Bedside.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2016 Dec; 34(12):585–586. PMID: 27925504.
- Rochkind S. “Photoengineering of neural tissue repair processes in peripheral nerves and the spinal cord: research development with clinical applications.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2006 Apr; 24(2):151–7. PMID: 16706693.
- Rochkind S, Drory V, Alon M, Nissan M, Ouaknine GE. “Laser phototherapy (780 nm), a new modality in treatment of long-term incomplete peripheral nerve injury: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2007; 25(5):436–42.
- Rochkind S, Leider-Trejo L, Nissan M, Shamir MH, Kharenko O, Alon M. “Efficacy of 780-nm laser phototherapy on peripheral nerve regeneration after neurotube reconstruction procedure (double-blind randomized study).” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2007; 25(3):137–43.
- Rochkind S, Nissan M, Alon M, Shamir M, Salame K. “Effects of laser irradiation on the spinal cord for the regeneration of crushed peripheral nerve in rats.” Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2001; 28(3):216–9. PMID: 11295755.
- Rochkind S, Shafi M, Alon M, Salame K, Fliss DM. “Facial nerve reconstruction using a split hypoglossal nerve with preservation of tongue function.” Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 2008; 24(7):469–74.
- Rochkind S, Shahar A, Fliss D, et al. “Development of a tissue-engineered composite implant for treating traumatic paraplegia in rats.” European Spine Journal. 2006; 15(2):234–45.
- Rochkind S, Shainberg A. “Protective effect of laser phototherapy on acetylcholine receptors and creatine kinase activity in denervated muscle.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2013; 31(10):499–504.
- Rochkind S, Geuna S, Shainberg A. “Phototherapy and nerve injury: focus on muscle response.” International Review of Neurobiology. 2009; 87:445–64. PMID: 19682654.
- Gigo-Benato D, Geuna S, Rochkind S. “Phototherapy for enhancing peripheral nerve repair: a review of the literature.” Muscle & Nerve. 2005; 31(6):694–701.
Main Research Areas
- Laser photobiomodulation (780 nm) for peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury treatment
- Microsurgical peripheral nerve reconstruction — clinical development and outcome studies
- Tissue engineering for peripheral nerve and spinal cord reconstruction (artificial implants)
- Anti-gliotic Guiding Regenerative Gel (GRG) — innovative matrix for nerve reconstruction
- Embryonal spinal cord cell transplantation for traumatic paraplegia
- Brachial plexus injury microsurgical techniques
- Endoscopic peripheral nerve surgery
Research Grants (Selected)
- FP7 — EU Framework Programme Consortium (European Union research grant)
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
- Johnson & Johnson
- Moxie Foundation
- German-Israeli Foundation (GIF)
- Baxter International
- Total: 16 research grants
Patents
- 11 international patents in the fields of biotechnology and laser technology
- Patents issued in the United States, Israel, and Europe (at least 8 US/European patents confirmed)
- Areas: laser photobiomodulation devices, nerve reconstruction matrices, biotechnology implants
Professional Memberships & International Roles
- World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) — Vice-Chairman, Peripheral Nerve Surgery Committee; Member of the Board of Directors
- European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) — Member, Committee for Peripheral Neurosurgery
- World Association of Laser Treatments (WALT) — Former President (1996–1998)
- Sunderland Society (international peripheral nerve surgery society) — Former President (2018–2019)
- American Association of Peripheral Nerve Surgeons — Director, Microsurgery Training Program
- Israeli Association of Laser Neurosurgery — President
- Israeli Neurosurgical Association — Member
- Israeli Medical Association — Member
- Member of 26 Israeli and international professional clinical and scientific associations in total
- Editor of 3 international medical and scientific journals
- Member of the editorial board of 5 international medical and scientific journals
- Reviewer for 34 international medical and scientific journals
- Instructor at peripheral nerve and brachial plexus educational courses organized by the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies
- Instructor at peripheral nerve surgery courses organized by the European Association for Hand Surgery
- Instructor at endoscopic peripheral nerve surgery courses
Languages
- Hebrew
- English
- Russian/Ukrainian
Notable Clinical & Scientific Milestones by Prof. Rochkind
- Founded the Division for Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction at Ichilov (2001) — the first dedicated peripheral nerve reconstruction division at an Israeli neurosurgical department.
- Pioneer of laser photobiomodulation for neural injuries — published the first paper on this topic in 1978, over 45 years of continuous research in this field.
- Developed the Anti-gliotic Guiding Regenerative Gel (GRG) matrix — an innovative biomaterial for reconstruction of severely injured peripheral nerves and spinal cord, currently in translational research stage.
- Conducted the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of 780-nm laser phototherapy for long-term incomplete peripheral nerve injury — published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
- Developed novel techniques for facial nerve reconstruction using a split hypoglossal nerve with full preservation of tongue function.
- Holds directorship of the Microsurgery Training Program of the American Association of Peripheral Nerve Surgeons — the only such role held by a non-American surgeon at an Israeli institution.
For patients seeking advanced neurosurgical treatment in Israel, Neurosurgeon Prof. Shimon Rochkind provides expert medical consultation and individualized approaches for complex peripheral nerve, brachial plexus, cauda equina, spinal, and pediatric neurosurgical conditions. His expertise includes peripheral nerve reconstruction, brachial plexus injuries, nerve tumors, nerve entrapment syndromes, painful neuromas, cauda equina disorders, spinal cord and nerve tumors, and congenital spinal conditions. Professor’s practice emphasizes microsurgical, minimally invasive, neuroendoscopic, and innovative nerve-reconstruction approaches, with particular expertise in restoring nerve function in adults and children.
