Credentials
Degrees & qualifications
- MBBS — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, National University of Singapore (1998)
- MRCS (Surg) — Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2001)
- M Med (Ortho Surg) — Master of Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, National University of Singapore (2002)
- FRCS (Orth Surg) — Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2006)
Fellowship
- Clinical & research fellowship, UCLA Comprehensive Spine Centre, Los Angeles (2006–2007)
Registration & licensing
- Full registration, Singapore Medical Council — 3 May 1999 (Registration No. M08515D)
- Register of Specialists (Orthopaedic Surgery), Singapore Medical Council — 1 November 2006
- ECFMG certification (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)
- Previously registered with the General Medical Council (United Kingdom)
- Previously licensed in California (2005)
His registration can be verified on the Singapore Medical Council's public register — search by name (Tow Phak Boon Benjamin) or by registration number (M08515D).
Identifiers
- ORCID iD: 0009-0000-1938-4399
- SMC registration number: M08515D
Professional memberships
- Executive Committee, Singapore Orthopaedic Association
- Executive Committee, Back Society (Singapore)
Appointments & career
| 2012 – present | Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, Orthopaedic and Spine Clinic (Mount Elizabeth Orchard and Novena), private practice |
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| 2008 – 2012 | Consultant, Spine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital — high-volume spine practice |
| 2007 – 2008 | Associate Consultant, Spine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital |
| 2006 – 2007 | Overseas fellowship, UCLA Comprehensive Spine Centre, Los Angeles (under Prof Jeffrey Wang & Dr Larry Khoo) |
Dr Tow graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1998 and completed his orthopaedic training and Master of Medicine in Singapore, followed by a fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. After an overseas fellowship at UCLA, he practised as a consultant at the Singapore General Hospital before moving into private practice in 2012. Over his career he has performed over 10,000 spine surgeries. Alongside spine surgery he manages general orthopaedic conditions of the knee, hip, ankle and upper limb, and trained in paediatric orthopaedics at the KK Women's & Children's Hospital.
Teaching & academic roles
| 2009 – 2012 | Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School |
|---|---|
| 2007 – 2012 | Clinical Teacher, National University of Singapore |
Clinical focus
Dr Tow subspecialises in spine surgery, with the general orthopaedic breadth to manage the hip, knee and other joints as well. Each area below links to the relevant guide or treatment overview.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery — spinal treatments
- Slipped (herniated) disc — slipped disc
- Microdiscectomy — microdiscectomy
- Degenerative spine conditions, stenosis & sciatica — spine & orthopaedic conditions
- Scoliosis & spinal deformity — spinal treatments
- Osteoporotic compression fractures — conditions we treat
- Spine surgery — fusion, decompression, disc replacement — spine procedures
- Knee, hip & shoulder (general orthopaedics) — orthopaedic treatments
Research & publications
Dr Tow is a published spine researcher. His peer-reviewed work spans minimally invasive versus open lumbar surgery, pedicle-screw navigation, cervical myelopathy outcomes, cervical disc replacement and the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures. His full citation record is on his Google Scholar profile.
- Minimally Invasive Compared With Open Lumbar Laminotomy: No Functional Benefits at 6 or 24 Months After Surgery. PubMed · DOI
- Comparison of Clinical Outcomes and Radiographic Measurements in Four Different Treatment Modalities for Osteoporotic Compression Fractures. PubMed · DOI
- Does Navigation Improve Accuracy of Placement of Pedicle Screws in Single-Level Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis? A Comparison Between Free-hand and 3D O-Arm Navigation Techniques. PubMed · DOI
- Surgically Treated Cervical Myelopathy: A Functional Outcome Comparison Between Multiple-Level Anterior Cervical Decompression Fusion with Instrumentation and Posterior Laminoplasty. PubMed · DOI
- Spontaneous Cervical Spinal Epidural Haematoma in the Post-Partum Period. PubMed · DOI
- Intermediate Results of the Prestige LP Cervical Disc Replacement: Clinical and Radiological Analysis with Minimum Two-Year Follow-Up. PubMed · DOI
- Concurrent Fractures of the Hip and Wrist: A Matched Analysis of Elderly Patients. PubMed · DOI
- The Effects of Lentiviral Gene Therapy with Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2-Producing Bone Marrow Cells on Spinal Fusion in Rats. PubMed · DOI
- Kinematic Analysis of the Relationship Between the Grade of Disc Degeneration and Motion Unit of the Cervical Spine. PubMed · DOI
- Trapezoid Rotational Bone Graft Osteotomy for Metacarpal and Phalangeal Fracture Malunion. PubMed · DOI
- Disc Regeneration: A Glimpse of the Future. PubMed
- Comparing Two-Year Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Either Patella-Tendon or Semitendinosus-Tendon Autografts: A Non-Randomised Prospective Study. PubMed · DOI
- Delayed Diagnosis of Ewing's Sarcoma of the Right Humerus Initially Treated as Chronic Osteomyelitis: A Case Report. PubMed · DOI
Patent: Metacarpal Osteotomy Jig design — Singapore Patent Application 200400360-3 (filed 5 February 2004). Co-inventors: B P B Tow (Singapore General Hospital), Koh Chai Wah, Chou Siaw Meng, Tan Soon Huat (Nanyang Technological University).
Where Dr Tow consults
Mount Elizabeth Orchard
3 Mount Elizabeth #13-06
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
Singapore 228510
Main / 24-hour: +65 6235 5774
Consultations by appointment.
Mount Elizabeth Novena
38 Irrawaddy Road #04-30
Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
Singapore 329563
Main / 24-hour: +65 6235 5774
Consultations by appointment.
Arrange a consultation with Dr Tow