Man recovers following 3D-printed prosthetic skull replacement

A Chinese man whose skull was severely injured in an accident has had fractured bones rebuilt with the help of 3D printing technology.

The surgery appears to have been a success, as the appearance of the man's skull has nearly returned to normal after more than half a month of recovery.

The 46-year-old man, surnamed Hu, was injured after he fell from the third floor of a building about ten months ago in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Half of his skull was dented in and his eyesight was affected. He was still able to walk and eat normally, but was unable to talk or write properly.

To repair his skull, doctors with the Xijing Hospital based in Xi'an used a 3D printer to create a titanium mesh. During a three-and-a-half hour operation on Aug. 28, doctors first separated his scalp from his skull and peeled off some of the muscle. They then inserted the titanium mesh, which weighs just 9.9 grams, to replace the damaged part of his skull.

After more than two weeks, Hu's head has nearly returned to its original shape and the scarring from the surgery is almost gone.

Doctors plan to conduct a second operation to repair his damaged left eyelid. By lifting his damaged eyelid, his eye will be enlarged to a more normal size.

Guo Shuzhong, head of Xijing Hospital, said the skull operation has been very successful so far. Hu did not show any sign of infection or rejection toward the implanted mesh and his brain is well-protected now.

Thanks to the repair of Hu's cerebral nerves, he is now able to speak some simple words. His language ability is expected to gradually improve.

Hu's wife Zhang Huixiang said he rarely left the house to interact with others before the operation, but now he is more willing to communicate.

The next operation is scheduled for three months from now and is expected to restore his overall appearance, according to doctors.