US firefighter has world's most extensive face transplant

US surgeons say they have carried out the world's most extensive face transplant to date, including the entire scalp, ears and eyelids.(including:gerund phrase- to date:infinitive phrase)

Plastic surgeon Dr Eduardo Rodriguez led the team that performed the 26-hour surgery to give injured volunteer firefighter Patrick Hardison, aged 41, a new face.(that performed...:noun clause- to give..:infinitive phrase)

The donor was a 26-year-old, David Rodebaugh, who was fatally injured in a cycling accident.(who was fatally injured...:adjective clause)

The operation took place in August.(in August:prepositional phrase)

At the time, the team at the NYU Langone Medical Center said the procedure had a 50:50 chance of working.(at the time:prepositional phrase)

Mr Hardison, who was injured in a house fire as he attempted to rescue a woman he believed was trapped in the blaze, had third degree burns of his entire face and scalp.(who was injured..:adjective clause- as he attempted to..:adverbial clause)

He waited more than a year on a donor register for a perfect match - not only blood type but someone with fair skin and light hair.

Two operating teams worked in unison, one preparing the donor and the other the recipient. (preparing the donor..:gerund phrase)Three months on from the million dollar procedure, Mr Hardison, a father of five, is healing nicely, although he will need to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life to stop his body's immune system from fighting the transplant.(although he will need...:adverbial clause- to stop his body's..:infinitive phrase)

Dr Rodriguez estimates that no more than five of the other patients who have received facial transplants around the world died after the new tissue was rejected.(that no more than..:noun clause- who have..:adjective clause- after the new...:adverbial clause)

He told a press conference: "The amount of tissue transplanted in Patrick has not been done before.(has not been done:verb phrase)

"He is doing very well today for only day 93 [post-op]."

The procedure has restored his eyelids and blinking mechanism and he now has a full head of hair, as well as eyebrows, stubble and ears.(blinking mechanism:adjective phrase)

Mr Hardison will need more operations in a few months time to remove some of the loose skin around his eyes and lips.(will need:verb phrase- to remove..:infinitive phrase)