Researchers say a drug commonly used to treat severe osteoporosis can mend hard-to-heal broken bones of elderly patients at a rate typically seen when they were young kids.

The study led by Dr J. Edward Puzas, who heads orthopaedic bone research at the University of Rochester Medical Center showed that the drug teriparatide, or Forteo can significantly boost our bodies' bone stem cell production.

The researchers may have discovered a new, in-the-body stem cell therapy that can jumpstart the body's natural healing process in bones.

In the study involving 145 patients who had an unhealed bone fracture, the researchers found that 93 percent showed significant healing and pain control after being on teriparatide for only eight to 12 weeks.

"In many people, as they get older, their skeleton loses the ability to heal fractures and repair itself," said Puzas.

"With careful application of teriparatide, we believe we've found a way to turn back the clock on fracture healing through a simple, in-body stem cell therapy," Puzas added.

Dr. Susan V. Bukata, medical director of the Center for Bone Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center Bukata revealed that elderly confined to nursing homes or require additional medical attention because of non-healing fractures might be able to live an independent life.

The impetus for the research began in Bukata's clinic, where she saw painful bone fractures in osteoporotic patients quickly heal within a few months of taking teriparatide.