3D-printed face helped cyclist rebuild his life

A CYCLIST badly injured by a drunk driver is the first to benefit from an NHS body parts centre that built him a 3D-printed face.

- By Lauren Beavis

Dave Richards, 75, was “lucky to survive” the crash, which damaged his back and pelvis and broke ribs on one side of his body.

He lost an eye and also suffered third-degree burns to the side of his face, including his nose and part of his neck.

During recovery he was referred to the Bristol 3D Medical Centre, based in Frenchay.

It is the first of its kind in the UK to have scanning, design and printing of prosthetics in a single NHS location.

Dave, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, got a 3D prosthesis fitting the space on his face and matching his hair, eye colour and skin.

He said: “The surgeons tried to save my eye but they were worried any infection could spread from my eye down the optic nerve to the brain so the eye was removed.

“The decision was then made to go for free flap, taking tissue with blood arteries and veins and plumbing it into my neck, the flap completely covering the side of my face.

“The surgery was a complete success though I have had to have two followup surgeries to release tightened scar tissue.