Schwarzenegger in good condition after surgery

Photo courtesy Office of the Governor of California

By Jeremy Lipps, Bay City News Service

December 26, 2006

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is reportedly in good condition after he underwent surgery to repair his fractured right femur today.

Dr. Kevin Ehrhart repaired the governor's thigh after it was broken while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho on Saturday.

"Following the surgery, the governor was awake, alert and talking in the recovery room. He is now fully coherent and I have cleared him to resume his duties as governor,'' Dr. Ehrhart said in a statement released by the governor's office.

Schwarzenegger will spend three days in the hospital as a standard precaution and recovery is expected to take approximately eight weeks, Dr. Ehrhart said.

"The governor is not in a cast and will use crutches to walk while his leg heals,'' Dr. Ehrhart stated.

The surgery involved using cables and screws to wire the two main fragments of the governor's broken femur bone back together, according to Ehrhart.

"It lasted approximately an hour-and-a-half, was without complication, and the post operation X-rays look great,'' Ehrhart said.

First Lady Maria Shriver said in a statement that the governor was in good spirits.

"He asked when he could get back to work and he's looking forward to his inauguration next week. Our children and I are grateful for everyone's support and prayers,'' she said.

While Schwarzenegger was under anesthesia, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante was acting governor.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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