Doctor: Mass. Gov. Patrick OK after hip replacement surgery for arthritis, pre-existing injury

Gov. Patrick OK after hip replacement surgery

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Deval (deh-VAHL’) Patrick is resting comfortably after undergoing hip replacement surgery to alleviate pain from arthritis and an injury he sustained three decades ago.

Dr. Harry Rubash said in a statement Tuesday the 53-year-old Democrat underwent a successful 2½-hour operation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Rubash, the hospital’s chief of orthopedic surgery, said Patrick is expected to be hospitalized four to five days, followed by a “few weeks” of outpatient rehabilitation.

Patrick has handed over power to Lt. Gov. Tim Murray for a couple of days.

Patrick injured his hip in a truck accident in 1978, while he was working on a United Nations youth training project in the Darfur region of Sudan.