Why are broken bones more serious with age?

On Behalf of | Mar 31, 2021 | Personal Injury |

Many people think that broken bones become more serious once a person is in his or her 60s and above. However, that is not true.

Broken bones for children and people in their 20s usually heal quickly with few complications. Once you reach 30, though, your chances for problems from a broken bone increase, according to the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University.

Bone density

The biggest reason why broken bones start to become a more serious issue after age 30 is that this is when you begin to lose bone density. In simple terms, that means your bones are not as solid. They are easier to break and more susceptible to severe breaks.

One problem that could impact you is osteoporosis. It is more common in women but can affect anyone. It comes with age and can increase the loss of bone density beyond that of normal aging.

Severity of breaks

Because your bones are not as strong, you could suffer breaks that are more severe than what you would have when you were younger. The weakened bone may split easier or break in more places. The more severe the break, the longer healing takes.

Reduced healing

Once you hit 30, your body begins a decline. You take longer to heal and other medical conditions may pop up that can impact healing, such as diabetes. Since you will heal slower, a broken bone becomes a much bigger problem than when you were young and healed much quicker.

If you thought you did not have to worry about serious bone breaks until you were in your 60s or older, you were wrong. It is clear that once you get out of your 20s, a broken bone could pose a huge medical risk.