Bristol 3D Medical Centre Aids Cyclist After Severe Accident
A cyclist who suffered significant facial injuries after being struck by a drunk driver is among the first patients to benefit from a groundbreaking NHS facility focused on body parts printing.
Located in Bristol, the 3D Medical Centre serves the entire South West region and is thought to be the first in the UK offering both 3D imaging and printing capabilities in one place.
This center provides advanced scientific and technical support for trauma patients, utilizing cutting-edge digital technology alongside specialized reconstructive skills.
Dave Richards, a resident of Devon, shared that the center has made him “feel a lot more comfortable in myself” following his accident.
The Incident
In July 2021, while cycling in Meare, Somerset, Mr. Richards and two friends were hit by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. The 75-year-old recalls: “He came up behind us and was on his phone.”
His friends were thrown to the side, suffering multiple fractures, while Mr. Richards found himself pinned beneath the vehicle, enduring severe burns on one side of his body and crush injuries to his ribs.
After undergoing numerous reconstruction surgeries at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and rehabilitation across various medical departments, Dave is gradually piecing his life back together.
He regularly visits the Bristol 3D Medical Centre, where he recently received facial prosthetics. The center’s technology has been essential in creating a large orbital prosthesis and neck scar splints for him.
Dave also benefits from a 3D scan of his face, allowing medical professionals to digitally capture him and produce replicas for the prosthetic molds. He remarked, “Most times people don’t notice. I have had to live with this for four years. A lot of the time, people don’t say anything or simply accept how I am.”
Socializing has become easier for him. “If I want to socialise a lot, I feel much more comfortable looking in the mirror and seeing someone who looks reasonable,” he added.
About the Bristol 3D Medical Centre
The Bristol 3D Medical Centre opened its doors in April on the old Frenchay Hospital site, situated on the city’s outskirts.
This state-of-the-art facility integrates an advanced science and technology service into a single space and was one of the first NHS hospitals to acquire a PEEK printer capable of producing personalized items at temperatures reaching 200 degrees Celsius.
Its scanning tool can digitally map a person’s body, even accommodating moving infants in a specially designed room.
The center continues to explore various applications, such as creating a 3D model of a damaged kidney to guide surgeons on what to remove while avoiding nerves and blood vessels. This innovative approach makes it unique by housing all these facilities in one location.
Most of the center’s equipment was funded through the Southmead Hospital Charity, which supports the North Bristol NHS Trust.
