Senior orthopedic surgeon · Shoulder specialist
Dr. Chezar leads the shoulder service at Carmel Medical Center in Haifa and has been named one of Israel's top shoulder surgeons by Forbes Israel every year since 2017. He treats rotator cuff tears, recurrent dislocations, frozen shoulder, arthritis and fractures – and he explains every option to you in English.
20+
Years of orthopedic practice, thousands of shoulder operations
10yrs
In a row on the Forbes Israel list of top shoulder surgeons
4.9/5
From 286 verified patient reviews on DocAdvisor
Dun's 100
Leading shoulder & elbow physicians in Israel, since 2023
In brief
Dr. Avi Chezar is a senior orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the shoulder. He is responsible for the shoulder service at Carmel Medical Center in Haifa and sees private patients in English at Assuta Haifa and at Medica RMC in Afula. Appointments are booked by phone on 052-422-4623.
About Dr. Chezar
Dr. Avi Chezar has practiced orthopedic surgery for more than twenty years and has performed thousands of shoulder operations, from keyhole tendon repairs to complex fractures and joint replacements. Every year since 2017, Forbes Israel has named him one of the country's three leading shoulder surgeons, based on nominations from senior physicians and department heads. Since 2023 he has also been listed in Dun's 100 among Israel's leading shoulder and elbow physicians.
Today he is a senior physician in the Department of Orthopedics at Carmel Medical Center, where he is responsible for the shoulder service. He operates privately at Assuta Haifa, Elisha Hospital and Medica RMC in Afula. Before Carmel, he spent many years at HaEmek Medical Center in Afula, first as deputy head of orthopedics and then as head of its Shoulder Surgery Unit.
Patients describe the same thing again and again: he explains what happened, what the options are and what recovery will really look like – and he stays involved until the shoulder works again, including written rehabilitation protocols for the physiotherapist.
Shoulder training at the shoulder unit of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov). Recognized by Mitek (Johnson & Johnson) as a European training center for shoulder surgery; teaches surgeons in Israel and abroad, including live surgery in India and China. Outside the hospital he volunteers with the Galil Carmel rescue unit and with Erez, helping people with disabilities ski, cycle and sail.
One of a small number of surgeons worldwide who perform the Latarjet procedure fully arthroscopically.
For a shoulder that keeps dislocating, the choice of operation depends mainly on the bone at the front of the socket. Dr. Chezar does the Latarjet through small keyhole incisions instead of an open incision, which allows a faster recovery with fewer complications.
Conditions & treatments
Most shoulder operations today are done arthroscopically, through a few small keyhole incisions. Where treatment without surgery can work, that comes first – a second opinion often starts with exactly that question.
Tendon tears · shoulder pain and weakness
A torn rotator cuff tendon does not heal back to the bone on its own. Smaller tears may settle with targeted physiotherapy; when surgery is needed, the tendon is reattached arthroscopically with suture anchors.
Treatment: physiotherapy, or arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Recurrent dislocation · labral tears
A first dislocation usually tears the labrum (a Bankart lesion), which does not heal on its own – and with every further dislocation the next one comes more easily. Recurrent dislocations need surgical stabilization: a Bankart repair of the labrum, or a Latarjet procedure when bone is missing.
Treatment: arthroscopic Bankart repair or arthroscopic Latarjet
Adhesive capsulitis
Pain first, then marked stiffness. More than 95% of frozen shoulders recover without any intervention; treatment focuses on relieving pain while movement gradually returns.
Treatment: local heat and pain relief – in the frozen phase, physiotherapy and injections do not help
Calcium deposits in the tendon
Calcium deposits inside the rotator cuff can cause sudden, severe pain. Treatment starts with anti-inflammatory medication and local heat, then a cortisone injection if needed; a large deposit that keeps causing pain is removed arthroscopically.
Treatment: medication and heat, injection, or arthroscopic removal
Upper labrum · long head of the biceps
Tears of the upper labrum and of the long head of the biceps tendon. Most need no operation: an upper labral tear is often not the real source of the pain, and a biceps tear rarely affects function much. If a biceps repair is chosen, it should be done within about three weeks of the injury.
Treatment: a muscle-strengthening protocol; surgery only in selected cases
Glenohumeral osteoarthritis · massive cuff tears
When cartilage wear or a massive, irreparable rotator cuff tear makes every movement painful, a reverse total shoulder replacement can restore a functional, pain-free shoulder. It is usually performed after age 65.
Treatment: conservative care, or reverse shoulder replacement
Proximal humerus · acromioclavicular joint
Complex fractures of the upper arm are fixed with a titanium plate and screws, or treated with a partial or reverse replacement when the bone cannot be reconstructed. AC joint separations are graded and treated accordingly.
Treatment: fracture fixation (ORIF), partial or reverse replacement
The detailed patient guides and post-operative physiotherapy protocols are written in Hebrew; a Hebrew–English glossary of shoulder terms can help with imaging reports. Dr. Chezar also provides medico-legal opinions for shoulder injuries.
Recovery
Typical timelines from Dr. Chezar's patient guides. Your own plan depends on the injury, what is found during surgery and daily physiotherapy – it is discussed with you before any operation.
| Operation | First weeks | Everyday function | Full activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotator cuff repair | Sling 3–6 weeks; office work after ~2 weeks, driving after ~6 weeks | About 3 months | 6–9 months |
| Bankart repair | Sling, then daily physiotherapy | Improves over the first months | About 6 months |
| Latarjet | Daily physiotherapy | Most movement back within 2–3 months | 4–5 months |
| Reverse shoulder replacement | Sling 3 weeks, then physiotherapy | About 3 months | Improving beyond 1 year |
| Fracture fixation / partial replacement | Sling 3–4 weeks, then physiotherapy | About 3 months | Good function at ~6 months |
Your visit
Everything happens in English – the call, the consultation, the paperwork and the follow-up.
Phone 052-422-4623 (+972-52-422-4623 from abroad). If nobody answers, send a WhatsApp message and you will get a call back.
X-ray, ultrasound or MRI. The images themselves are needed – a written report alone is not enough.
Examination, a review of your images with you, and a clear explanation of every option – including whether surgery is needed at all.
If you need an operation, Dr. Chezar performs it himself and follows you through recovery, with a written physiotherapy protocol for each stage.
Told you need shoulder surgery? Dr. Chezar reviews the diagnosis and imaging and tells you whether an operation is really necessary.
Reimbursement from all Israeli health funds and private insurers. Official profiles with Clalit, Maccabi, Assuta, Carmel and Medica RMC.
Patient reviews
286 verified reviews on DocAdvisor – doctors cannot pay for ratings there.
“I have never in my life met such a good, professional and kind doctor. He explains everything – what happened and what to expect after surgery – and he even gave the physiotherapists step-by-step guidance.”
“I came to Dr. Chezar with severe pain and limited movement. After the surgery I returned to full function. The care was amazing and the professionalism – the highest level there is.”
“His warm, calming manner helped most in the stressful moments before surgery – and he came by several times afterwards to make sure everything was alright.”
“A pleasant, kind, available and professional doctor – truly the best there is. I chose him and waited two months for an appointment because of his skill.”
Translated from the Hebrew originals, verified on DocAdvisor. Read all 286 reviews on the Hebrew site.
Clinics & hours
Two clinics in the north, easy to reach from Haifa, the Krayot, the Jezreel Valley and the Galilee. Patients come from all over Israel.
Haifa
| Sunday | 09:00 – 15:00 |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 16:00 – 20:00 |
Afula
| Tuesday | 14:30 – 19:00 |
|---|
Questions
Medically reviewed by Dr. Avi Chezar, orthopedic shoulder surgeon.
Last updated .
Yes. Dr. Chezar consults, operates and follows up in fluent English, and the clinic secretary speaks English as well – so booking, paperwork and follow-up are all straightforward for English speakers.
Call the clinic secretary at 052-422-4623 (+972-52-422-4623 from abroad). If there is no answer, send a WhatsApp message to the same number and the secretary will call you back.
At Assuta Haifa, 55 HaHistadrut Blvd, on Sundays 09:00–15:00 and Wednesdays 16:00–20:00, and at Medica RMC in Afula (Emek Center, 18 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd, 2nd floor) on Tuesdays 14:30–19:00. Patients come from all over Israel.
Reimbursements are available from all Israeli health funds (kupot holim) and private insurance plans. Dr. Chezar holds official profiles with Clalit, Maccabi, Assuta, Carmel Medical Center and Medica RMC.
Bring all relevant imaging – X-ray, ultrasound or MRI – on a disc. The images themselves are required; a written report alone is not sufficient.
Yes. A second opinion before deciding on shoulder surgery is one of the clinic's core services: Dr. Chezar reviews the diagnosis and the imaging and advises whether surgery is really needed or whether a conservative route is reasonable.
A torn rotator cuff tendon does not heal back to the bone on its own – only surgical repair reattaches it. In some cases, especially smaller tears, targeted physiotherapy can reduce pain and improve function by strengthening the surrounding muscles.
The arm is kept in a sling for 3–6 weeks. Office work is usually possible after about two weeks and driving after about six weeks. Reasonable everyday function is expected by about three months, and a return to full activity at 6–9 months, depending on the size of the tear.
An arthroscopic Bankart repair reattaches the torn labrum and is the standard repair when there is no significant bone loss. The Latarjet procedure is preferred when there is significant bone loss at the socket or when a previous stabilization has failed. Dr. Chezar performs the Latarjet fully arthroscopically.
Rarely. More than 95% of frozen shoulders recover without any intervention. Treatment focuses on pain relief during the painful phase, and movement returns gradually over months.
Appointments
The fastest way is a phone call to the secretary. You can also leave your details and the clinic will get back to you.