New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine underwentsurgery Monday to remove excess bone growth in the leg he broke ina near-fatal car crash last spring.

Corzine transferred gubernatorial power to Senate PresidentRichard J. Codey at 10:22 a.m., five minutes before he went undersedation and entered surgery at Cooper University Hospital, Corzinespokeswoman Lilo Stainton said.

The surgery ended about two and a half hours later, she said.Corzine was in stable condition.

The governor is expected to spend several days in the hospital,with Codey, a fellow Democrat, likely serving as acting governorinto Tuesday, Stainton said.

Corzine received a low dose of radiation before surgery toprevent future bone growth, Stainton said. During the operation,surgeons planned to cut excess bone growth away from Corzine's leftfemur with a bone chisel.

Corzine, 60, was a front-seat passenger and not wearing a seatbelt when his state trooper-driven sport utility vehicle slammedinto a guardrail at high speed after it was clipped by a pickuptruck on the Garden State Parkway. A state police report determinedthat improper use of emergency lights by Corzine's driver triggeredthe events that led to the crash.

The crash broke Corzine's left leg in two places, and he now hasan excess growth common in patients with severe femur injuries. Thecondition, known as heterotopic ossification, occurs when thegrowth extends into muscle, causing discomfort, diminished motionand muscle weakness.

Corzine has been walking on his own for several weeks, but witha limp.

Codey already has plenty of experience as acting governor. Hefilled in for Corzine for more than three weeks after the crash andis frequently transferred power when Corzine is out of the state.Codey, a Democrat like Corzine, also served as acting governor fromNovember 2004 to January 2006 after former Gov. James E. McGreeveyresigned.