Gov. Schwarzenegger breaks leg skiing at Sun Valley

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger planned to stay through Christmas at his home in Idaho as he recovers from breaking his leg, a spokeswoman said.

SAN FRANCISCO — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger planned to stay through Christmas at his home in Idaho as he recovers from breaking his leg, a spokeswoman said.
    Schwarzenegger, 59, was recuperating Monday in Sun Valley, Idaho, a resort town where he often vacations. He broke his leg there while skiing Saturday.
    The governor was ''continuing to do well today and looking forward to spending time with his family,'' spokeswoman Julie Soderlund said.
    Doctors at the Sun Valley hospital who examined Schwarzenegger told him he needed surgery to repair his fractured right femur, which extends from the hip to the knee. An operation has not been scheduled but will take place in Los Angeles, Soderlund said.
    The governor's staff would not release details about how he was hurt. Soderlund said that he was not fitted with a cast and that she did not know whether he was using a wheelchair or crutches.
    Schwarzenegger does not intend to delay his second inauguration, scheduled for Jan. 5, Soderlund said.
    Though one of the strongest bones in the human body, the femur is commonly broken in skiing accidents, said Dr. Marc Safran, director of sports medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center.
    Depending on the location and extent of the break, the governor's surgery could include inserting a rod into his leg, securing the injured section with a plate and screws, or even a partial hip replacement if the injury was near the hip, Safran said.
    Recovery can take six weeks or longer, but the governor could be walking in time for the inauguration, likely needing crutches or a cane, Safran said.

— The Associated Press