Surgery For Jason Priestley

Jason Priestley is in serious but stable condition after surgery Thursday on both his broken feet and his back.

Methodist Hospital spokesman Jon Mills says the actor and racecar driver is recovering "nicely" from the six-hour procedure.

Hospital officials say Priestley and his family are beginning to make plans for his rehabilitation, which could begin as early as next week.

The 32-year-old former "Beverly Hills 90210" star was badly hurt Aug. 11 when his open-wheel car spun out of control on Turn 2 and hit the wall nearly head-on during practice for the Infiniti Pro Series, a developmental circuit for the Indy Racing League.

Besides fractures to both feet and to his spine, Priestley also had a moderate concussion, a bruise around his left eye and cuts on his nose, left cheek and neck.

Priestley had qualified second for the race and is seventh in the Infiniti Pro Series standings, but his racing team, Kelley Racing, announced Thursday it was pulling out of the Infiniti series out of respect for Priestley.

Although Priestley's car hit the wall at a speed of about 180 miles per hour, doctors say he has been showing every sign that he will be able to make a full recovery.

Just one day after the horrifying wreck, Dr. Stephan Stapczynski, chairman of the University of Kentucky Hospital's Department of Emergency Medicine, said the actor was not only aware of his surroundings, he was also able to say his name and recognize family and friends, encouraging signs Stapczynski called "impressive."

Dr. Frank Schwab, associate director of spinal surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in New York, said it likely will be several months before Priestley is able to resume any type of normal life.

"The critical thing is the stability of the fracture," said Schwab, who is not involved in treating Priestley. "If it is found to be stable and there is little damage to the surrounding ligaments, he's likely facing three to four months of rehabilitation with limited activity.

"The vast majority of patients in that situation have an excellent chance at full recovery and in most cases are able to resume any activities they were pursuing before the injury."

Monday, Kelley Racing team general manager Jim Freudenberg said Priestley's spirits were high.

"I asked him if he wanted to see a picture of his race car in the paper this morning. I showed him and he closed his eyes," Freudenberg said. "I don't think he liked what he saw. That's his racecar, his baby. He saw his baby hurt."

Hospital spokeswoman Mary Margaret Colliver said phones have not stopped ringing since Priestley arrived Sunday morning.

"The response has been unbelievable," she said. "We've received hundreds of calls from all over the country and around the world from fans anxious to know about his condition. We're also getting cards, flowers, faxes and messages of support and prayer coming in, and we're trying to find a place to put them where his family can enjoy them."

Priestley, a native of British Columbia, starred as Brandon Walsh in the Fox network's "Beverly Hills, 90210," which ran from 1990 to 2000.

In recent years, he began focusing on auto racing and was considered to be a knowledgeable and talented driver. He began racing in 1991 in the California Rally Series and won his first race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1998.

"He's gotten to know everybody and changed everybody's opinion of him. He's shown he's a good racer. He's been running up front," driver Ed Carpenter said.

Priestley was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and produced and directed a number of documentaries, television dramas, cable network specials and music videos. His film credits include "Eye of the Beholder," "Calendar Girl" and "Love and Death on Long Island."