A 75-year-old cyclist who suffered full-thickness burns to his head after being hit by a drunk driver has been fitted with a 3D-printed prosthetic face by the NHS. Dave Richards, from Devon, was given the mimetic prosthetic at the new Bristol 3D Medical Centre, the first NHS facility in the UK to combine 3D scanning, design and printing in one location.
The incident occurred in July 2021 when a speeding drunk driver struck Richards while he was cycling with friends. He was trapped under the vehicle, with the engine and exhaust burning one side of his body while the other side was crushed. Richards suffered severe injuries to his back, pelvis and ribs, and his eye had to be removed due to infection risk. Surgeons performed a free flap procedure, taking tissue with blood vessels from elsewhere and attaching it to his neck to cover the side of his face.
Richards described the recovery process as challenging, saying he felt vulnerable and avoided social situations initially. However, he expressed gratitude for the treatment, stating, 'I have always said no matter what treatment is offered, if I think there’s a benefit and the risks aren’t too high, I will try anything.' The prosthetic was designed using advanced 3D scanning and printing technology, allowing for movement accommodation and safe skin contact.
The driver was sentenced to three years in prison but was released after 18 months for good behaviour and an early guilty plea. Richards expressed disappointment, saying, 'I am not best pleased with his reduced sentence as I very nearly lost my life and have to live with all the pain from my injuries on a daily basis.'
