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How Often Does Turnover Of Bone Take Place In The Skeletal Structure?

Posted on Sat, 14 Nov 2015

Question: Dear Doctor, i have a question relating to bine turnover figures, why is there many literature stating 'whole skeleton is replaced every ten years' when other studies state cortical bone has 3% turnover per year which means its replaced every 33 years?

Which is correct - 10 years or 33 years? many thanks

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
All the bones do not undergo turnover but only those subjected to stresses

Detailed Answer:
Hi there.

Thanks for the query.

It is given clearly in the literature that the entire skeleton isn't replaced but only targeted sites of the skeleton which undergo micro cracks or wear and tear.

This means that mainly the axial skeleton which suffers more wear and tear gets replaced frequently due to Wolff law of remodelling.

3% cortical bone gets replaced every year. Not all the bones undergo remodelling or turnover, but only the 3% undergoes remodelling or turnover.

Turnover of Bone is necessary to replace weaker regions of micro cracks to form new strong bone and also for calcium metabolism purpose.

I hope I have answered your query.

I will be available to answer your follow up queries.

Regards,

Dr. Aashish Raghu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (12 hours later)

Thanks but can somebody else answer this question? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Online journals mention only bones under physical stress undergo turnover

Detailed Answer:
Kindly do look up on the NCBI Website on studies on bone turnover. It highly depends on the bones that undergo stress which need to remodel or undergo turnover

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj