Dr Benjamin Tow is an orthopaedic surgeon who subspecialises in spine — so alongside spine care he manages the general orthopaedic conditions of the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle and upper limb, from arthritis and sports injuries to fractures. This is roughly 40% of his practice. Read the condition guides, see how the procedures work, or learn about Dr Tow's training and experience.
Common orthopaedic problems
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor. Most episodes settle within a few weeks with simple measures and good posture, and surgery is rarely needed. Pain that is severe, persistent, or spreads into a leg is worth having assessed.
Neck pain is often caused by muscle strain from posture — long hours at a screen or desk — or by wear in the joints of the neck. Seek medical advice if it comes with numbness, arm weakness, or pain that shoots down the arm.
Joint pain can feel stiff, aching or sore, and may limit everyday activities. It is more common after previous injury or overuse, with arthritis, with excess weight, or with age. Treatment aims to address both the pain and the activities it affects.
Numbness in the limbs — a numb or pins-and-needles feeling may affect one area or be more widespread. It has many possible causes, from nerve compression to other conditions. Sudden numbness can occasionally signal an emergency such as a stroke, which needs immediate care.
Shoulder pain often comes from inflamed tendons or a problem with the rotator cuff, and can sometimes be referred from the neck. Assessment identifies the source so treatment can be directed accurately.
Knee and hip pain — these joints carry the body's weight through a wide range of movement, so wear, injury and genetics can all contribute to pain. When symptoms become limiting and do not respond to other measures, joint replacement is one option to discuss.
See all spine and orthopaedic conditions →
Orthopaedic conditions & procedures by region
Where surgery is the right answer, the aim is to do the least that solves the problem. The procedures section explains how the operations work; the conditions and techniques below are grouped by region.
Hip, knee and ankle
Conditions treated include:
- osteoarthritis of the knee
- osteoarthritis of the hip
- hip trauma
- meniscal injury of the knee
- cartilage and ligamentous injury of the knee
- ankle trauma
- ankle instability
- ankle deformity
- infection of the extremities
Treatment options and services include:
- percutaneous injection of visco-supplementation
- arthroscopy: debridement, chondroplasty and partial meniscectomy
- total knee replacement
- computer-aided navigation for knee replacement
- robotic-assisted surgery for knee arthroplasty
- minimally invasive unicompartmental knee replacement
- hip hemi-arthroplasty
- hip joint replacement
- percutaneous intramedullary nailing of the femur and tibia
- plate and screw fixation of the femur and tibia
- arthroscopic-assisted reconstruction of the ligaments of the knee
- fixation of fractures of the ankle
- ankle fusion and joint replacement
- correction of hallux valgus (bunion) deformity
- amputations of the toes, midfoot, leg and lower limb for infection
Shoulder and upper limb
Assessment and treatment for:
- shoulder impingement
- shoulder instability
- tears of the rotator cuff tendons
- arthritis of the shoulder
- fractures of the upper limb
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- ulnar nerve impingement
- tennis elbow
- trigger finger
- tendinopathies of the wrist and elbow