Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen prognosis is positive after he was bucked from a horse, injured spleen

Nebraska’s Republican Governor Jim Pillen was hospitalized in intensive care on Monday after sustaining injuries from being thrown off a horse while riding with his family the day before. The 68-year-old governor was treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he underwent a medical procedure for an injured spleen, seven rib fractures, a partially collapsed lung, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae, and a minor kidney injury.

Despite the severity of his injuries, doctors remain optimistic about Pillen’s prognosis. He is expected to remain in the hospital for at least another day but is currently in stable condition. The governor underwent a minimally invasive procedure called a prophylactic embolization for the spleen injury. This involved inserting coils to stop the bleeding near his spleen.

Dr. Hillman Terzian, a trauma surgeon at Nebraska Medicine, stated that Pillen did well during the procedure and is showing signs of improvement. The governor has been motivated to get out of bed and has even started walking laps, which is considered impressive given the extent of his injuries.

While Pillen is in intensive care, his doctor’s main focus is on controlling his pain. No additional surgeries are planned at this time, but options are available for treating his rib fractures if necessary. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, the governor’s office has confirmed that they are not life-threatening and could have been much worse.

Governor Pillen was elected in 2022 after running in the gubernatorial election that year. Prior to his political career, he worked as a veterinarian and owned a livestock operation. Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly is currently acting as governor in Pillen’s absence as part of a routine transfer of power.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.