Julian S

Julian’s story

Julian was 21 years old in 2000 when his car crashed into a lamp-post, following which he was ejected through the sunroof and landed face first against the same lamp-post.

He sustained severe injuries to his skull and facial bones so that he was on the intensive care unit for several days before he was fit to undergo a major operation. His frontal bones, right and left eye sockets, nasal bones, upper jaw and lower jaw were all fractured. The resulting effect was of protrusion of his right eye and a lowering of the level of his left eye.

He underwent two operations. The first was conducted shortly after his admission when a breathing tube (tracheostomy) was inserted into the lower part of his neck, his lower jaw and skull fractures were repaired and his brain swelling was decompressed. A few days later, through an incision over the top of the head (bicoronal flap), the scalp was “peeled down” to expose the bones of the face, his eye sockets were reconstructed and replaced in their correct position as were his nose, eyelids and upper jaw. All of these were held together with metal titanium plates. The scalp was replaced at the end of the operation and sutured in place.

Julian enjoys go-karting, playing football as a forward and he supports Arsenal. He lives with his mother and brother Leon. He sells mobile phones and does electrical work.