Israeli medicine is known throughout the world for its high quality of medical services, accurate and quick diagnostics, and effective treatment of complicated diseases using modern and innovative technologies. Multidisciplinary medical center Tel Aviv Medical Clinic operates a special Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics Department, where a team of specialists diagnoses and treats malignant and benign diseases of bones and soft tissues in children of different ages.

Carefully selected medical personnel who have undergone high-quality training save lives of many young patients suffering from orthopedic cancer every day. The team of professionals consists of orthopedic doctors, oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists and qualified nurses. That is, a whole multidisciplinary team operates on the basis of department so that the child can receive comprehensive and high-quality medical care, starting from diagnostic stage and ending with rehabilitation after complex treatment.

The field of oncology orthopedics is actively developing in Israel today. Our department is actively conducting various clinical studies that help to identify such diseases at an early stage and treat them effectively.

Tiny baby leg massaging. Feet massage making for child.

Practice directions of Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics Department

At TAMC Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics Department will provide high-quality and complete medical care to every sick child, combined with comfortable care. We successfully treat the following diseases:

benign and malignant bone tumors (cysts, sarcomas, osteomas, etc.);
malformation of adipose tissue (lipomas, liposarcoma, etc.);
vascular neoplasms (endothelial and perivascular);
soft tissue tumors (radbomyomas, leiomyosarcoma, etc.);
malignant and benign tumors of cartilage tissue (chondromas, chondrosarcomas, fibromas).

Unfortunately, there are no specific symptoms for these serious diseases. If you notice a malformation (protrusion) on your child’s body, shortening one of limbs, regular pain in legs or arms, back, change in gait, deformation of spinal column – immediately seek help from a specialist. After all, a problem detected in time is the basis for successfully overcoming it.

What diseases does Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics Department treat?

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Diagnostic methods in Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics

Oncology Orthopedics Department is equipped with excellent material and technical resources. Examinations of young patients are carried out using innovative equipment. In particular, not only the most modern CT and MRI machines are widely used, but also equipment for clear medical imaging, for example, PET-CT, PET-MRI. Modern CT and MRI simulators are used to plan radiation therapy courses. Thanks to such unique equipment, it is possible to significantly increase the accuracy and efficiency of irradiation and reduce the risk of side effects.

Almost every case of musculoskeletal system and soft tissues malignant neoplasm is accompanied by necessity for biopsy in order to accurately determine the type of tumor and select the best treatment regimen, taking into account individual characteristics of both neoplasm and patient. Samples of histological material are sent to the best pathohistological laboratories in Israel for review and verification of diagnosis by leading specialists in this field. Thanks to such molecular tests, we are confident in adequacy of diagnosis and effectiveness of further treatment regimen.

Innovative molecular genetic tests are also available to our young patients after a biopsy. This is an essential part of modern diagnostics program of malignant oncological diseases. Thanks to molecular genetic diagnostics, we can select the most effective treatment regimens, because the response to certain drugs action depends on the type of malignant changes. An example of such modern diagnostics are test systems for molecular genetic testing. They are – the Foundation One and Caris Molecular Testing. These tests can detect certain types of mutations in tumor cells, as well as presence of certain receptors on the surface of these malignant cells. Such data is used to create individual immunobiological therapy drugs or to select targeted therapy drugs. In modern medicine this approach is called personalized oncology. Our patients have access to all benefits of this innovative treatment.

All invasive diagnostic procedures, such as biopsies, are performed only under sedation (medicated sleep), in a responsive and friendly atmosphere so that children do not experience pain, fear or other psychological discomfort.

Based on obtained data during diagnostic search, specialist makes an accurate diagnosis indicating the stage of malignant process and creates a treatment regimen according to patient’s individual characteristics and modern clinical recommendations. All necessary diagnostic procedures can be completed directly at Tel Aviv Medical Clinic.

Important!

Patients with tumors of bones and soft tissues need high-quality and accurate diagnostics, because required extent of treatment and success of therapeutic programs will depend on this.

Modern treatment methods in Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics

More than 90% of patients in Oncology Orthopedic Department fully recover after a successful treatment course, retain mobility affected limb and are forever free from pain and other unpleasant sensations. These incredible results are achieved through a combination of high training level of our orthopedic doctors and application of advanced techniques in orthopedic and oncological surgery.

Surgery is a mandatory component of treatment. It can be refused only in cases where pathological process has reached an extreme stage of development, there are multiple metastases that cannot be completely removed.

Our orthopedic oncologists always strive to exclude complete amputation of limb (which was relevant just yesterday), trying to preserve it by removing only affected areas and small area around them. This possibility exists in 80% of cases. Subsequently, special cement or an implant from patient’s own bone tissue is used to reconstruct removed part of bone.

Joint replacement sphere has received particularly high development. We use only endoprostheses and their parts manufactured by proven and high-quality well-known global manufacturers. Their materials are absolutely biocompatible and do not cause rejection reactions, allergic or other complications. If necessary, endoprosthetics of almost all joints is performed: knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, wrist, elbow.

Also, after radical interventions with removal of bone and soft tissue tumors in children, reconstructive plastic surgeries are performed to restore tissue defect that formed after initial stage of surgical treatment. An example of such surgeries is prosthetics of ribs and sternum, individual vertebrae, pelvic bones, etc. Bone grafts are produced according to individual needs of each individual small patient using the most modern technologies – printing on medical 3D printers.

In complex treatment of oncological and orthopedic diseases, we use only the most modern surgical methods, which are organ-preserving and minimally invasive:

vertebroplasty under the control of computer navigation;
osteoplasty under the control of computer navigation;
cryoresection of bone tumors;
microsurgical reconstruction of blood vessels, bones and soft tissues;
radiofrequency thermal ablation for tumor lesions of bones and soft tissues;
excochleation of bone tissue cystic neoplasms and other high-tech, minimally invasive, effective techniques.

If the disease affects only ligaments or cartilage, we perform reconstructive plastic surgery, transplantation of cartilage tissue to restore continuity and normal function of affected structures. Such interventions are usually performed by arthroscopy, that is, using special endoscopic equipment without large incisions, which minimizes possible complications (infection, bleeding) and speeds up rehabilitation after surgical interventions.

Modern emergency room. Professional medical with new technologies hospital ward.

If necessary, TAMC orthopedists perform amputations. Such a radical step may be necessary for malignant neoplasms of bones and soft tissues of extremities. After surgery, patient can receive the entire necessary range of rehabilitation measures along with production of a modern individual high-tech prosthesis for lost limb. A team of specialists will select the necessary orthopedic shoes, make up an individual plan for physical therapy, manual therapy, massage, ergotherapy, teach you how to move correctly, and perform the necessary physical exercises. This is necessary so that upon returning home patient continues to exercise on his own to quickly restore lost body functions.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is most often performed to destroy inoperable malignant bone tumors and their metastases in lungs, brain and other organs. The advantages of stereotactic surgery are absolute non-invasiveness, painlessness, high efficiency and safety. As a result of exposure to high-dose ionizing radiation, cancer cells are precisely destroyed, and healthy tissues are almost not irradiated, since they receive minimal doses of radiation.

Chemotherapy for malignant neoplasms of bones and soft tissues in children is prescribed almost constantly. It is aimed at process of growth and reproduction of tumor cells. Chemotherapy is prescribed in courses, the duration of which, as well as the dose of drugs, is determined individually, taking into account modern treatment protocols in oncology orthopedics.

Recently, there has been active research into development of targeted therapy using monoclonal antibodies that block insulin growth factor receptors and signaling pathways of malignant cells. It is considered as a encouraging direction in treatment of bone and soft tissue cancer. Monoclonal antibodies specifically affect cancer cells, due to which their uncontrolled division stops and tumor stops growing. Thanks to this selectivity, targeted drugs do not affect body healthy tissues, and patients tolerate treatment with them much easier than classical chemotherapy.

The main task of our orthopedic doctors and oncologists is to effectively treat a small patient and avoid limb amputations, as well as postoperative complications. To achieve this, Pediatric Oncology Orthopedics Department at TAMC uses a multidisciplinary and completely individualized approach to each child; all decisions are made exclusively with the consent of parents or custodians of small patients and in their interests.