ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minn. Gov. Mark Dayton will undergo spinal surgery next week at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Dayton’s office announced Friday that the operation is being done to relieve a constriction in the governor’s lower back, known as stenosis, and to fuse a vertebrae in the same area that is shifting out of alignment. The procedure will take place on Dec. 27.

Dayton has been walking with a noticeable limp in recent months. Spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci said that’s due to pain from stenosis. She said he’s otherwise in generally good health.

The Mayo Clinic website says spinal stenosis is usually caused by normal wear-and-tear on the spine due to aging.

Dayton, who is 65, expects to be released from the hospital on Dec. 31. He’ll return to the Governor’s Residence in St. Paul and plans to work from there for a few weeks. His office says public events scheduled for the first two weeks of January are being rescheduled.

Tinucci said that Dayton does not plan to delegate any duties to Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon during or after his surgery.

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