Man recovers using 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, Xinhua reported.

The 46-year-old man was injured after he fell from the third floor of a building about 10 months ago in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province.

Half of his skull was dented and his eyesight was affected.

However, he was still able to walk and eat, 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.

Hu's head has nearly returned to its original shape and the scarring from the surgery is almost gone.

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