Israel’s War with Hamas Spurs Cutting-Edge Rehabilitative Technologies
After being shot in both legs by a Hamas sniper in Gaza, Israeli reservist and New York native Aaron Bours is among the many soldiers pioneering the use of cutting-edge rehabilitative technologies that have been a result of Israel’s war with Hamas.
Rehabilitation Efforts
At the forefront of Israel’s rehabilitation push is Sheba Medical Center in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, the Middle East’s largest hospital. Here, rehabilitation efforts ranging from augmented and virtual reality to AI-driven PTSD treatments are being both researched and deployed as injuries from Gaza — and more recently, Lebanon — continue to mount.
Video-Game Therapy
At Sheba’s new Immersive Rehabilitation Room, Bours, who lost over three inches of bone in his right leg, has been busy mimicking a monkey catching bananas. The space, like a video game reimagined for therapy, projects real-life scenarios onto walls and floors embedded with sensors.
Advanced 3-D Printing
Another key wartime development is in the realm of three-dimensional printing, which now enables the rapid production of customized prosthetics and implants. At Sheba Medical Center’s 3D Center, a precisely designed skull model was manufactured to help surgeons reconstruct the facial structure of IDF officer Omri Rosenblit, who was severely injured in Khan Yunis when a building collapsed on him.
Robots and AI
Surgical robotic technology also isn’t entirely new but has been updated in a groundbreaking way at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem after the Oct. 7 attacks. A robotic guidance system by Israeli company Medtronic was used to remove a bullet lodged in a soldier’s sacrum — the bone at the base of the spine — avoiding paralysis, nerve damage, and lead poisoning.
Battlefield Innovations
Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, has introduced whole blood transfusions on the battlefield, making the IDF the first military to implement this life-saving practice. By delivering comprehensive blood components — red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma — at the point of injury, survival rates for soldiers suffering massive bleeding and trauma have reached an unprecedented 93%.
Revolutionary PTSD Treatment
With over a third of soldiers in rehabilitation battling PTSD, the psychological toll of war is expected to cost Israel’s economy upwards of $53 billion in the next five years. To address this, the Defense Ministry has launched grants to support AI-driven mental health solutions.
Pineapple Miracles
Anat Iosub Amir, director of healthcare investment at Israeli venture capital fund OurCrowd, said that many of these new technologies emerging from the war have applications far beyond the battlefield. "The war was the spark, but these technologies can grow into much bigger markets," she said.
Conclusion
The war in Gaza has spurred a wave of healthcare innovations that are reshaping both mental and physical recovery for soldiers and civilians. From surgical robots that remove bullets and shrapnel to 3D-printed prosthetics tailored for rapid deployment, these technologies are redefining modern medicine and saving lives.
FAQs
Q: What are the most significant advancements in rehabilitative technologies resulting from the war in Gaza?
A: The most significant advancements include video-game therapy, advanced 3D printing, robots and AI, battlefield innovations, and revolutionary PTSD treatment.
Q: How has the war affected the psychological toll on soldiers?
A: Over a third of soldiers in rehabilitation are battling PTSD, with the psychological toll expected to cost Israel’s economy upwards of $53 billion in the next five years.
Q: What is the significance of whole blood transfusions on the battlefield?
A: Whole blood transfusions on the battlefield have increased survival rates for soldiers suffering massive bleeding and trauma to an unprecedented 93%.
Q: How will these technologies benefit civilians and soldiers beyond the battlefield?
A: Many of these technologies have applications far beyond the battlefield, with the potential to grow into much bigger markets and benefit civilians and soldiers worldwide.
