Man grows new skull after decades


Doctors said the regrowth was remarkable given the size of the area of bone

The severely damaged skull of a Northumberland man involved in a car crash 50 years ago has regenerated itself, a process thought to be rare.

Doctors operated to treat an infection in Gordon Moore's head and found the bone had grown back beneath the metal plate inserted after the accident.

This would not be unusual in a child, whose bones are growing, but there are very few documented cases in adults.

Doctors said it was particularly remarkable given the size of the area.

Mr Moore, from Ridsdale, made headlines previously by becoming among the first tourists to visit Iraq and Afghanistan.


"We had no idea what we were going to find underneath, but I didn't expect to find a new skull." -Param Bhattathiri, Neurosurgeon

The former postmaster flipped his car while driving near Berwick in 1955.

The metal plate which was inserted was itself dented three years later in a subsequent car crash.

His new skull reportedly follows the contours of this dent.

Mr Moore said the plate had never bothered him, but he was relieved he would no longer "set the alarms off at the airport".

His consultant, Param Bhattathiri, told the Newcastle-based Evening Chronicle: "It was a great surprise to find the skull had grown back.

"You would expect it in a child, but not in an adult, certainly not in an area of bone so big."

But he added it was unusual in any event to remove a metal plate after so many years.

Tests are to be carried out to ascertain the thickness and strength of the new bone.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8293731.stm

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Secular One on October 6, 2009 at 8:43pm
And possibly a driver of questionable skill =P
Permalink Reply by Carl Zulauf on October 6, 2009 at 8:52pm
And possibly one of those folk who don't think seatbelts are good ideas. Maybe he has finally changed his mind? ... besides just changing its shape.
Permalink Reply by Boothby171 on October 6, 2009 at 8:56pm
That's totally uncalled for---and absolutely hilarious.
Permalink Reply by Gwen on October 6, 2009 at 11:37pm
Naw, he needs to rethink his driving practices!!!
Permalink Reply by Gwen on October 6, 2009 at 11:38pm
Amazing!
Permalink Reply by sacha on October 8, 2009 at 10:46am
Try writing him. If you can't find an address, try to go through BBC News.
Permalink Reply by Jared Lardo on October 18, 2009 at 6:38pm
This man needs to be bred from--regrowing skulls is awesome!

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