Pillen broke seven ribs and one vertebra when he was knocked from the horse. Nebraska Examiner

OMAHA – Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen will need at least one more night in the hospital before he can return home for recovery after being knocked off a horse.

He may need longer depending on whether he chooses to undergo surgery to repair seven broken ribs on his left side during the ride on family land Sunday afternoon near Columbus.

If not, he could be released on Christmas Eve. Pillen’s Nebraska Medical Center doctors told reporters at the adjacent University of Nebraska Medical Center about his injuries on Monday.

In addition to broken ribs, Pillen also suffered a “minor fracture” to a vertebra in his lower back, Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeons Dr. Charity Evans and Dr. Hillman Terzian said.

His condition required an hour-long surgery when he arrived from Columbus Community Hospital on Sunday to repair bleeding from a ruptured spleen, a procedure they said went well.

During that operation, while the governor was incapacitated, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served as governor, the governor’s office announced in a news release later Monday.

Doctors said they were glad the governor did not suffer injuries to his head, neck or spine, which are common in horse riding falls.

Pillen would like to go home, the doctors said. He tried to negotiate with his doctors to get home in time for Monday Night Football, but he was urged not to rush for recovery time.

“He has already run laps, which is very impressive,” Terzian said. “He’s a tough guy, and it shows in the way he’s recovered so far.”

Evans said Pills keeps doctors and nurses on their toes. She said he has already tried to recruit local doctors to monitor him to stay in Nebraska.

The governor’s office said Pillen was out of the operating room in time on Sunday to watch the second half of Nebraska Basketball’s televised win against Murray State in Hawaii.

The latest press release states that Pillen plans to “return to work after Christmas and wishes all Nebraskans a blessed and safe holiday.” He will do some work from the hospital.