Veteran Rep. John Dingell fractured hip in fall

Retiring Rep. John Dingell has a fractured hip and it will take time for the 88-year-old Michigan Democrat -- Congress' longest serving member -- to recover.

An update was posted Saturday on Facebook by his wife, Debbie Dingell, who was elected to the seat last month.

John Dingell was hospitalized Friday in Washington, and it turns out he fractured his hip in a fall last week.

Debbie Dingell says it was by "sheer grit and determination" that he didn't miss the final days of his last House session this week.

She says no surgery is needed and she's aiming for him to be there when she's sworn in Jan. 6.

She says it has been "a rough 24 hours" and that he had walked around on the ailing hip for a few days before the fracture was diagnosed.

It will be a few weeks before Dingell is allowed to travel.

He has served 59 years in the House. He was first elected in 1955 to replace his late father.