Texas doctors say they have done the world's first partial skull and scalp transplant to help a man with a large head wound from cancer treatment.

MD Anderson Cancer Centre and Houston Methodist Hospital doctors announced on Thursday that they performed the operation on May 22.

The recipient is Jim Boysen, a 55-year-old software developer from Austin, Texas.

Radiation treatments for a rare cancer left him with an open wound in his head that would not heal.

Along with the scalp and skull, he received a new pancreas and kidney to treat lifelong diabetes.

Mr Boysen expects to leave the hospital later.

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