Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will be released from the hospital Friday, two days after having nine titanium plates inserted during surgery to stabilize ribs he broke when he was knocked from a horse
OMAHA, Neb.– Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is expected to be released from hospital on Friday – two days after nine titanium plates were installed during surgery to stabilize the ribs he broke when he was knocked off a horse last weekend.
Some of the Nebraska Medicine doctors who have been Treating pills Since being flown from Columbus to the hospital in Omaha on Sunday, he said he has improved significantly since the rib procedure on Christmas Day. Pillen has been breathing easier and moving better for the past two days, trauma surgeon Dr. Zach Bauman said.
“Before the operation he felt extremely uncomfortable because of the rib fractures. He had a lot of movement from those rib fractures, clicking and popping,” Bauman said.
Pillen plans to return to work next week as he continues his recovery at the governor’s residence in Lincoln, his office said. But his doctors said they want him to wait until he has fully recovered before considering getting back on a horse.
Pillen, 68, suffered a number of injuries when he fell but was fortunate not to suffer a head injury. On the day he arrived at the hospital, doctors performed a minimally invasive procedure called a prophylactic embolization to stop bleeding due to a spleen injury.
During both the spleen and rib procedures, Nebraska’s Lt. Governor Joe Kelly temporarily acted as governor.
In addition to these injuries, Pillen also suffered a small fracture in one of his vertebrae and a kidney tear, but both are expected to heal on their own in the coming weeks.
Pillen and his family said in a statement that they were grateful for the care he received from Nebraska Medicine doctors and nurses and for the well wishes he received from Nebraskans.
Pillen was elected governor in 2022. Dr. Charity Evans said he should be prepared to work with lawmakers when the state Legislature returns next month.