ninian peckitt , 63 , claimed he had simply ` digitally manipulated ' the patient 's face as part of hospital treatment , but witnesses said .
the world-renowned surgeon , who has lectured on the use of titanium implants to treat disfigured patients and has been published in academic texts , faces being struck off the medical register after being accused of failing three of his patients .
a medical practitioners tribunal service hearing in manchester was told a man referred to as patient a had fallen out of bed which had further displaced his facial fractures .