Pensioner who lost part of his skull in car crash 50 years ago stuns doctors... when new bone grows back



A pensioner who had part of his skull removed after an accident in the 1950s has astounded doctors - when they discovered fresh bone had grown back.

Gordon Moore, 72, wore the metal plate to protect his brain for more than 50 years after his car overturned near Berwick, Northumberland.



Three years after his first car accident, Mr Moore found himself in another crash.

This time his vehicle struck a lamppost and he was thrown head-first into the rear-view mirror, leaving a dent in his metal plate for the next 47 years.

Last year doctors discovered Mr Moore's metal plate was poking out of the top of his head.

Skin grafts failed to cover up the open wound, so neuro-surgeons decided to remove the plate. When they got him on the operating table in August, they made the amazing discovery - new bone underneath.

Regenerated: An x-ray shows where the titanium metal plate covered Gordon Moore's damaged skull. Right, Mr Moore, 72, has grown new bone to replace the damage

The whole smashed front section of Mr Moore's skull, from above his eyebrow stretching back to the top of his head, has regenerated.

It is understood there has been only one other discovery of an adult growing fresh skull bone.

Mr Moore, a great-grandfather who used to run a post office in North Shields, Newcastle, was expecting to wait months for a replacement plate.

But thanks to the rare regrowth of his skull, he has been told he no longer needs one and is enjoying a new lease of life.

He said: 'I was amazed when they told me and obviously very pleased at the same time.

Amazed: An x-ray with the plate removed shows where the bone has regrown over the last 50 years

'They took the infected plate out and found I had grown a completely new skull underneath, so they just stitched me up.

'I've been reassured that everything is fine, but apparently it's very, very rare. They were totally amazed.

'I was being prepared to walk around with a safety helmet on for a few months, but now it's just not necessary.

Rare: The scars from where the metal plate were on Mr Moore's head are still clearly visible and the skull has regrown in the same shape as the plate

'Although they say bone does grow through time, it's never half a skull like this. My new skull is the exact same shape as the metal plate.'

He added: 'I've asked if they will give me the plate back as a souvenir, but I haven't received an answer yet.'

Doctors at Newcastle General Hospital said the find was 'extremely interesting' and believe further tests could be carried out on Mr Moore, who now lives in Hexham.

Consultant neurologist Param Bhattahiri was in charge of his treatment.

He said: '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 an area of bone so big.

'I've never heard of anything like this, although I haven't reviewed all the literature on it.

'It's certainly very rare, but it's very rare to remove a metal plate after this period of time.

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



Experts are now waiting to perform more scans of Mr Moore's skull to check the thickness and strength of the new bone.



Mr Moore said: 'I'm very lucky I suppose. I was told the metal plate would last me for the rest of my life. I never expected this to happen.



'I suppose I should be grateful to it because it has made the skull grow back.