Gov. Patrick OK After Hip Replacement Surgery

Gov. Deval Patrick is resting comfortably after undergoing hip replacement surgery to alleviate pain from arthritis and an injury he suffered three decades ago.

Dr. Harry Rubash said in a statement Tuesday the 53-year-old Democrat underwent a successful 2 1/2-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.