The former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi had a hip replacement on Saturday at a US military hospital in Germany after falling while at an event in Luxembourg with other members of Congress.

Pelosi, 84, “is well on the mend,” said Ian Krager, a spokesperson for the California Democrat.

Pelosi thanked the staff at Landstuhl regional medical centre and the hospital in Luxembourg, where she was also treated, for “their excellent care and kindness”.

Pelosi was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in the second world war.

Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event and fractured her hip, according to people familiar with her injury who were not authorised to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Among those on the trip was the Texas Republican Michael McCaul, who posted on social media that he was “praying for a speedy recovery” for Pelosi.

The San Francisco congresswoman stepped down from her role as speaker – a powerful position second in line to the presidency after the vice-president – but she has continued to serve in the House and remains influential in the party.

Pelosi was first elected in 1987. She served as speaker twice, stepping down from her leadership post two years ago but remained in Congress and was re-elected to represent her San Francisco district in November.