Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will be under anesthesia for surgery. Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly will take on the role of acting governor during the surgery.

First-term Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen chose to have surgery Wednesday to repair his broken ribs at the Nebraska Medical Center. The decision will keep Pillen, 68, in the hospital at least “several more days for recovery and observation” after he was seriously injured Sunday when a new horse he was riding with family

The governor's office said Wednesday that Pillen chose to have a rib fixation procedure, in which doctors will use metal plates to stabilize his seven broken ribs.

His office said the "the governor's injuries were serious but not life-threatening and could have been much worse."

Gov. Jim Pillen's office said the procedure was a success and will remain at Nebraska Medicine for several more days for recovery.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen is recovering from a rib surgery that he underwent on Christmas Day following a horse riding accident.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was hospitalized Sunday after he was thrown off a horse, injuring his spleen and fracturing a vertebra and seven ribs, officials said.

Doctors say the 68-year-old governor's prognosis is good despite seven rib fractures, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae and a minor kidney injury.

The procedure was a success and Gov. Pillen was returned to the step-down unit where he will continue his recovery from the horse-riding accident that occurred Sunday," his office said.