Dr Benjamin Tow treats the full range of spine conditions in Singapore — back and neck pain, slipped disc, sciatica, spinal stenosis, scoliosis and spinal fractures — and performs the corresponding surgery, using minimally invasive techniques where they are appropriate. Start with the plain-English condition guides, read how each procedure works, or learn about Dr Tow's training and experience.
Conditions of the spine
Slipped disc occurs when the soft inner core of one of the cushions between your vertebrae pushes through a weak point in its firmer outer layer. If the displaced material presses on a nearby nerve, it can cause pain that travels into a limb, along with numbness or weakness. Read the full slipped disc guide.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within the spinal canal, most often in the lower back or neck. The reduced space can press on the spinal cord or nerves, leading to pain, tingling, numbness or weakness — though some people have no symptoms at all.
Spinal fracture is a break in one of the vertebrae, often caused by trauma or by weakened bone. Depending on its location and severity it can affect the stability of the spine, cause pain, and in serious cases involve the nerves, so prompt assessment matters.
Spinal infection is uncommon but serious. Bacteria may reach the spine through the bloodstream, after an injury, or following a procedure, and can involve the discs, the vertebrae or the surrounding tissues. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Spinal tumour is an abnormal growth within or around the spinal canal or the bones of the spine. Tumours vary widely in behaviour, and symptoms depend on their size and location. Assessment usually involves imaging to guide the right treatment.
See all spine & orthopaedic conditions →
Spine procedures Dr Tow performs
Where surgery is the right answer, the aim is to do the least that solves the problem. Microdiscectomy for a slipped disc is one worked example; the procedures section explains the others. The techniques below are grouped by region of the spine.
Lumbar spine
- minimally-invasive (keyhole) spinal decompression for spinal stenosis
- minimally-invasive discectomy
- percutaneous spinal fusion techniques
- minimally invasive decompression and correction of spinal deformity
- percutaneous procedures for the treatment of pain
- motion-preserving spinal technologies
- percutaneous osteoporotic stabilisation
- image-guided spinal surgery
- spinal cord and neuro-monitoring for spinal procedures
- computer-navigation surgery for the spine
- complex spine reconstruction
- lumbar spine corpectomy
- revision surgery for failed back syndrome
- less invasive treatment of spinal tumours
- extreme lateral approach for lumbar discectomy and fusion
Thoracic spine
- scoliosis
- thoracic spine tumour
- spinal cord compression from injury or tumours
- thoracic spine trauma with deformity
- compression fractures
Dr Tow has extensive experience in:
- minimally-invasive spine fixation
- kyphoplasty
- vertebroplasty
- thoracotomy with corpectomy and spinal column reconstruction
- some of these conditions can be treated on a day-surgery basis
Cervical spine
- cervical prolapsed disc
- spinal cord compression
- cervical myelopathy
- ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
- cervical trauma
- cervical spine deformity
Treatment options include:
- TENS
- anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
- anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion
- cervical arthroplasty (disc replacement)
- cervical arthroplasty and fusion hybrid construct
- cervical laminoplasty
- cervical laminectomy
- cervical foraminotomy
- lateral mass fusion
- occipito-cervical fusion
- cervico-thoracic fusion