DR LIM BENG HAI

About Dr Lim Beng Hai

Dr Lim obtained his medical degree from the National University of Singapore in 1985. This was followed by a Master of Medicine and joining the Fellow Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in 1990.

He took up Advanced Hand Surgery Traineeship in 1990 and was accredited as a Specialist in Hand Surgery in September 1998. Dr Lim did his fellowship in Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the Christine Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery in 1994.

“CHARMS prides itself on providing the highest level of care for the upper limb in a personalized, professional and compassionate manner” – Dr Lim Beng Hai, Director and Senior Consultant Hand Surgeon.


He was awarded the Senior Fellowship in Hand Surgery by the University of Louisville Hospitals in 1995 to 1996. Upon his return to Singapore he was appointed the Adjunct Assistant Professor to the Department of Surgery, University of Louisville in the United States.

Dr Lim served as a consultant Hand Surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital until June 2000 where he went on to become Chief of the Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the National University Hospital.

While in NUH, he actively participated in the management of the hospital. He was Associate Chairman of the medical board in 2001 to 2002 and Vice Chairman of themedical board from 2003 to 2004. He holds the Associate Professor position in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, in NUS and heads the Hand Division in the department. He continues to be an Adjunct Associate Professor to the department until 2011.

He enjoys teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. He set up the Microsurgical Training Laboratory in NUH in 2001 and was Program Director for the laboratory and started joint training program in microsurgery with Aesculap Academy in 2003. The success of the microsurgical training laboratory propelled him to set up the STAR (Skills, Training and Research) Laboratory in NUH in 2003. The STAR lab was further expanded to include a digital medicine laboratory.

As the Chief of the Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, he started the department’s annual cadaveric symposium and workshop for GPs in 2000 and in 2001 the Foundations in Musculoskeletal Surgery for advanced trainees in hand, plastics and orthopaedic surgery.

ACADEMIC INTERESTS

His research interests include the Distal Radial Ulnar Joint, flexor tendon repairs and training and certification in microsurgery. His publications include some of his innovative surgical techniques which are recognized by the international hand surgery community.
Some of the techniques were cited in texts such as the Green’s Operative Hand Surgery, Atlas of Hand Clinics and Grabb’s Encyclopedia for Flap Surgery.

CURRENT POSITIONS:

  • Director and Senior Consultant Hand Surgeon, Centre for Hand and Reconstructive MicroSurgery (CHARMS)
  • Chairman, Aptus Surgery Centre Pte Ltd
  • Chairman, Novaptus Surgery Centre Pte Ltd

Journal Articles

  1. Lim BH, Mack P, Mohan C. Cholecysto-duodeno-colic fistula–a case report. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1989 May;18(3):296-7.
  2. Lim BH, Toh CL, Wong HP, Pho RW. Cadaveric study on the vascular anatomy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow–a basis for anterior transposition? Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1992 Sep;21(5):689-93.
  3. Koh DL, Lim BH. Postoperative continuous interscalene brachial plexus blockade for hand surgery. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1995 Jul;24(4 Suppl):3-7.
  4. Teoh LC, Khoo DB, Lim BH, Yong FC. Osteocutaneous lateral arm flap in hand reconstruction. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1995 Jul;24(4 Suppl):15-20.
  5. Lim BH, Wong HP, Toh CL, Pho RW Cadaveric Study on the Effect of Transposition on the Vascularity of the Ulnar Nerve at the Elbow J Orthop Surg 1995, 3(1): 47-53
  6. Tsai TM, Lim BH. Free vascularized transfer of the metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the second toe for reconstruction of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb and index finger using a single vascular pedicle. PlastReconstr Surg. 1996 Nov;98(6):1080-6.
  7. WYC Chew, BH Lim, DBA Khoo, FC Yong, LC Teoh Controlled Ambient Temperature in the Postoperative Management of Micro reconstructive Procedures Hand Surgery, Vol. 1, No. 1(1996) 23-29
  8. Lim BH, Tsai TM Modified Double Loop Suture Technique for Flexor Tendon Repair J Hand Surg (British and European Volume, 1996) 21B (Suppl) 1: 26-27
  9. Asami A, Tsai TM, Lim BH The Association of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Other Upper Extremity Conditions Hand Surgery, Vol. 2, No. 1(July 1997): 1-3
  10. Sun L, Lim BH, Yeow V, Xin LX, Tan P. Establishment of animal models using experimental rats for allogeneic tissue transplantation and quantitative flow cytometric detection of immunochimera. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1999 Jan;28(1):90-4.
  11. Tsai TM, Chen IC, Majd ME, Lim BH. Cubital tunnel release with endoscopic assistance: results of a new technique. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1999 Jan;24(1):21-9.
  12. Gill RS, Lim BH, Shatford RA, Toth E, Voor MJ, Tsai TM. A comparative analysis of the six-strand double-loop flexor tendon repair and three other techniques: a human cadaveric study. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1999 Nov;24(6):1315-22.
  13. Koh WI, Lim BH. Soft Tissue Complications Following Kirschner Wire Fixation for Fusion of Basal Joint Arthritis. Hand Surg. 1999 Dec; 4(2): 197-202.
  14. Tan BK, Lim BH. The lateral forearm flap as a modification of the lateral arm flap: vascular anatomy and clinical implications. PlastReconstr Surg. 2000 Jun;105(7):2400-4.
  15. Tham CH, Lim BH. A modification of the technique for intravenous regional blockade for hand surgery. J Hand Surg [Br]. 2000 Dec;25(6):575-7.
  16. Lim BH, Tan BK, Peng YP. Digital replantations including fingertip and ring avulsion. Hand Clin. 2001 Aug; 17(3): 419-31, viii-ix. Review.
  17. Peng YP, Lim BH, Chou SM. Towards a splint-free repair for flexor tendon injuries. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2002 Sep; 31(5): 593-7.
  18. Dong JS, Peng YP, Zhang YX, Lim BH, Pho RW Reverse anterior tibial artery flap for reconstruction of foot donor site. PlastReconstr Surg. 2003 Nov; 112(6): 1604-12.
  19. Loh JS, Lim BH, Wan CT, Tan SH Second metatarsophalangeal joint: biomechanics and reconstruction potential. Clin OrthopRelat Res. 2004 Apr;(421):199-204.
  20. Ng BH, Chou SM, Lim BH, Chong A. Strain rate effect on the failure properties of tendons. Proc Inst Mech Eng [H]. 2004;218(3):203-6.
  21. Yam A, Tan TC, Lim BH. Intraoperative interfragmentary radial nerve compression in a medially plated humeral shaft fracture: a case report. J Orthop Trauma. 2005 Aug;19(7):491-3.
  22. Lahiri A, Lim AY, Qifen Z, Lim BH. Microsurgical skills training: a new concept for simulation of vessel-wall suturing. Microsurgery. 2005;25(1):21-4.
  23. Ng BH, Chou SM, Lim BH, Chong A The changes in the tensile properties of tendons after freeze storage in saline solution. Proc Inst Mech Eng [H]. 2005 Nov;219(6):387-92.
  24. Lim BH, Loh SY Reconstruction of a posttrauma arthritic distal radioulnar joint by vascularized second metatarsophalangeal joint transfer. PlastReconstr Surg. 2006 Feb;117(2):19e-23e. No abstract available.
  25. Chong AK, Ang AD, Goh JC, Hui JH, Lim AY, Lee EH, Lim BH. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells influence early tendon-healing in a rabbit achilles tendon model. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Jan;89(1):74-81.
  26. Chong AK, Tan DM, Ooi BS, Mahadevan M, Lim AY, Lim BH. Comparison of forearm and conventional Bier’s blocks for manipulation and reduction of distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg [Br]. 2007 Feb;32(1):57-9. Epub 2006 Nov 22.
  27. Lim KH, Chew CM, Chen PC, Jeyapalina S, Ho HN, Rappel JK, Lim BH. New extensometer to measure in vivo uniaxial mechanical properties of human skin. J Biomech. 2008;41(5):931-6. Epub 2008 Feb 20.
  28. Lim KH, Jeyapalina S, Ho HN, Chew CM, Chen PC, Teo CL, Lim BH. Non-invasive prediction of skin flap shrinkage: a new concept based on animal experimental evidence. J Biomech. 2008;41(8):1668-74. Epub 2008 May 15.
  29. Wong M, Sebastin SJ, Lim BH. A simple technique of making a looped suture for flexor tendon repair. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2009 Jun;34(3):409-10. No abstract available.
  30. Koh HS, Yong T, Teo WE, Chan CK, Puhaindran ME, Tan TC, Lim A, Lim BH, Ramakrishna S. In vivo study of novel nanofibrous intra-luminal guidance channels to promote nerve regeneration. J Neural Eng. 2010 Aug;7(4):046003. Epub 2010 Jun 16
  31. Foo TL, Lim BH. Early results of combined palmar-dorsal scapholunate ligament reconstruction. Hand Surg. 2014;19(1):33-8.
  32. Gupta A, Lakhiani C, Lim BH, Aho JM, Goodwin A, Tregaskiss A, Lee M, Scheker L, Saint-Cyr M. Free tissue transfer to the traumatized upper extremity: Risk factors for postoperative complications in 282 cases.
    J PlastReconstrAesthet Surg. 2015 Sep;68(9):1184-90. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2015.05.009. Epub 2015 May 21.PMID: 26212638

Book Chapters

  1. Beng-Hai Lim and Amit Gupta: Early Repair And Late Reconstruction of Crush Injuries of The Hand In The 2nd Edition of Occupational Injuries And Diseases of The Upper Extremities: pg 381-392 Edited By Kasdan, Published by Hanley &Belfus, Inc. /Philadelphia
  2. JE Kutz, HW Klein, T M Tsai, and BH Lim: Microvascular Free Transfer of Toe Joints In The 2nd Edition of Grabb’s Encyclopedia of Flaps Vol 2 (Upper Extremities): pg 948 – 051 Edited By B Strauch, L O Vasconez, EJ Hall-Findlay, Published by Lippincott – Raven
  3. Proceedings of 2nd Congress of the Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand: Hand Surgery in the Next Millennium, 1999 Edited By Lam-Chuan Teoh &Beng-Hai Lim Published by MonduzziEditore
  4. Tsu-Min Tsai, Beng-Hai Lim, and Gao-Meng Zhang : Vascularised Toe Joint Transfer In The Growing Hand: pg 1009 – 1019 Edited By Amit Gupta, Simon PJ Kay, Luis R Scheker Published by Mosby
  5. Tsu-Min Tsai, Gao-Meng Zhang, and Beng-Hai Lim: Upper-extremity Replantation in Children In The Growing Hand: pg 955 – 968 Edited By Amit Gupta, Simon PJ Kay, Luis R Scheker Published by Mosby
  6. Beng-Hai Lim, KoKPohLooi and Ivor Lim General Practioners Guide to Hand Surgery
  7. Su Jiang Wen and Lim Beng HaiAnaesthesia in Hand Surgery
  8. Lim Beng Hai, Alphonsus K.S. Chong, Peng Yeong Pin Primary Flexor Tendon Surgery, Clinical Primary Flexor Tendon Repair and Rehabilitation, The Singapore Experience. In Jin Bo Tang, MD (Ed). Tendon Surgery of The Hand, 2012, PP153-156. 2012 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
  9. A Yam, BH Lim
    Anatomic Repairs:The Four Ligament Reconstruction (4-LR) for distal radio-ulnar joint instability. In Greenberg J (Ed) Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain: A Master Skills Publication, pp151-159. American Society for Surgery of the Hand, 2013.

  1. The Biomechanical Characteristics of the tendons of the hand – a human cadaveric
  2. Distal Radial Ulnar joint reconstruction- 4 strand technique: cadaveric evaluation of load bearing ability
  3. Development of an intramedullary fixation device for metacarpal shaft fractures
  4. Digital pre-training for microsurgery
  5. The influence of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells on rate of tendon healing in rabbits
  6. Multisensory Skin Flap Planning Asistant using a Virtual Model of Patient-Specific Biomechanics and Blood supply
  7. The role of radioulnar ligaments in the stability of the DRUJ during forearm supination and pronation
  8. A prospective study of functional outcome following intra-articular fracture of the distal radius in adults – a comparison between wxternal fixation and internal plating NHG grant
  9. Digital Stereo Microscope Technology, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd A Star

International

  1. 2017, 28 October - IBRA Seminar & Workshop, Trauma and Reconstruction of the Upper Limb, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  2. 2017, 20 to 26 September - India Society for Surgery of The Hand, 41st ISSHCON 2017- Mumbai
  3. 2017, 29 to 30 April - Taiwan Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Taipei
  4. 2016, 24 to 28 October - 13th International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand and 10th International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy Congress 2016, Buenos Aires Argentina
  5. 2013, 18 to 19 April - 56th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH), Kobe International Conference Center, Kobe, Japan
  6. 2013, 21 to 22 March - Annual Meeting 2013 (29th) Hand Surgery Association of Thailand and Micro Surgery Association of Thailand
  7. 2013, 4 to 8 March - International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) Congress, New Delhi, India
  8. 2012, 11 to 13 October - 9th Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Bali, Indonesia
  9. 2012, 18 to 21 May - Taiwan Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Taipei
  10. 2010, November - 34th Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand (ISSH) in Nashik, India – November 2010
  11. 2010, November - International Federation for Surgery of the Hand (IFFSH)
  12. 2010, November - Korean Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (KSRM), Annual Scientific Meeting
  13. 2010, March - Reconstructive Surgery Project, Indonesia – Singapore International Foundation (SIF) Specialist Volunteer
  14. 2008, 16 to 20 September - 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Society For Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), Chicago, USA
  15. 2008, 1 to 3 May - 54th Continuing Orthopaedic Education, Indonesian Orthopaedic Association, Pontianak, West Kalimantan
  16. 2008, 18 to 20 February - Post Congress Symposium-7th Congress of Asian Pacific federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand 2008, Shenzhen, China
  17. 2008, 14 to 17 February - 7th Congress of Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand 2008, Hong Kong
  18. 2007, 25 to 28 October - 2007 LMT Current Concepts in Upper Limb Surgery Course, Fiji Islands
  19. 2007, 11 to 15 March - IFSSH and 7th Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy – IFSHT, Sydney, Australia
  20. 2004, 10th Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Invited Speaker – Post-IFSSH, Bucharest, Romania
  21. 2003, 10 December - Philippines Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting
  22. 2003, ASEAN Orthopaedic Association Congress
  23. 2003, 10 to 13 September - 33rd Association of Plastic Surgery India Conference APISCON 2003, Ooty India
  24. 2003, 8 to 9 September - Live surgery Workshop: Congenital Hand Surgery, Ganga Hospital Coimbatore
  25. 2002, 24 to 26 August - Workshop in Wrist Surgery and Tendon Repair organized by Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong
  26. 2001, 15 June - 4th Triennial International Hand and Wrist Biomechanics Symposium in Istanbul-Ezmir , Turkey
  27. 2001, 10 to 14 June - 8th Congress of the – International Federation of the Hand, Istanbul – Principles of Replantion Surgery of the Upper Extremity
  28. 2000, 11 to 15 August - 3rd Asian Pacific Federation for Surgery of the Hand Congress, Chennai, India
  29. 2000, 12 to 14 May - Inauguration of Ganga Microsurgery Training Institute and Symposium on Micro Surgery, Combater, India
  30. 1999, 6 to 24 June - Visiting Asst. Clinical Professor to University of Louisville and Christine Kleinert Institute For Hand and Microsurgery
  31. 1999, 28 February to 4 March - Second Asian-Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Singapore
  32. 1998, 28 to 29 October - Microsurgical course for beginners, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  33. 1998, 21 to 23 March - Disorders of the Wrist organized by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  34. 1997, 22 to 26 March - Inaugural Scientific meeting of the Asian Pacific Federation of Societies For Surgery of The Hand, Perth, Australia
  35. 1996, 5 to 8 May - Visiting Lecturer at Duke University Medical Centre, Division of Orthopedic Surgery
  36. 1996, 30 to 31 March - Flap Course for Residents and Fellows, Christine Kleinert Institute for Hand & Microsurgery – Moderator
  37. An Anatomical Study of the Ligamentous Structure of the TFCC by Shoji Ishii, A Palmer – Discussant
  38. 1995 - 13th Fellows and Residents Conference for the ASSH, San Francisco USA

Regional

  1. 2016, 12 November - AcumedBioskills and Workshop, Kuala Lumpur
  2. 2014, 3 October - The International Bone Research Association Satelitte Symposium “Distal Radius Fractures”, Kuala Lumpur
  3. 2014, 2 to 4 October - 10th Congress of Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Kuala Lumpur
  4. 2013, 6 to 8 June - 43rd Malaysian Orthopaedic Association Annual Scientific Meeting (43RD MOA ASM), Kuching, Malaysia
  5. 2013, 21 to 23 January - 9th Annual Scientific Meeting, Cadaveric Workshop, and Annual General Meeting 2013
  6. 2012, 11 to 13 February - Malaysian Society For Surgery Of The Hand 8th Annual Scientific Meeting, Kuantan, Malaysia
  7. 2011, 22 to 24 May - 41st Malaysian Orthopaedic Association Annual General 2011, Meeting/Annual Scientific Meeting & 5th ASEAN Arthroplasty Association Meeting
  8. 2010, 20 to 22 May - 40th Malaysian Orthopaedic Association Annual General Meeting/Annual Scientific Meeting
  9. 2008, 26 to 29 June - 28th AseanOrthopaedic Association Congress & 38th Malaysian Orthopaedic AGM by Malaysian Orthopaedic Association, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  10. 2007, 16 to 18 August - National Symposium of Management in Hand & Upper Limb Injuries by Hospital TengkuAmpuanAfzan, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
  11. 2001, 10 to 11 March - Wrist Symposium Organized by Orthopedics Department, FPUKM and Malaysian Orthopaedic Association and Malaysian Society for Surgery of the Hand
  12. 2000, 2 to 3 May - Symposium on Microsurgical Reconstruction of the Upper Extremity, Department of Orthopaedic& Traumatology, FPUKM, Hospital UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  13. 1999, 25 to 26 November - Flexor Tendon Workshop organised by JabatanOrtopedik&Traumatologi, FakultiPerubatan, HUKM Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  14. 1997, 20 April - Short Course In Orthopedic – Management of Hand Injuries And Infection Organized by The Department Of Orthopedic, Sultan Aminah Hospital, Johor Baru
  15. 1996, 16 to 18 August 1996 - Basic management in trauma and fractures Symposium organized by the Department Of Orthopedic, Sultan Aminah Hospital, Johor

PATIENT CARE

Aftercare: Prevention of Complications

Post Operative Care