Could you upload a pic of the broken branches and a pic of the soil the plant is in? When was it last repotted? Maybe the soil is getting a bit old and nasty? I'm not sure if plants have age limits as such? I guess they must do, but I'm pretty sure I've seen specimens online older than 42 years.

as for the broken segments, I'd stick them in some soil and they'll root, as you did 42 years ago ;) must be a pretty big plant by now?

I've seen one at 96 yrs in age a friend has one close to 60 yrs in age

What they did was break it down and reported it into one wooded section per pot for mutilate aged plants

With out a close hands on view of the inside root system my guess is the roots involved on your dried out segment(s) had become root bound inside the pot. Depending on the size of the pot and how long it's been in the current pot it may also be pot bound. Considering ( for epic cacti of this type) the avg time for them in the same pot is five to six years.

I am assuming you have some experience, housing it for the time it's been in your care you may consider to move forward with best intentions and not feel a need to follow up BUT If you could post a pic of the entire plant in the pot that's it's currently in adding size of pot prior to any suggested re-potting. If you could also add notes regarding any broken/ deformed shaped leaves and or holes in leaves any missing leaf parts ect. for any possible pest concerns.

thechinski, Yes, will upload a few pics. The plant is not as big as you might imagine. We've kept it in check over the years. It measures about 29 or 30 inches from one side to the other. It has been in the same kind of potting medium for years. About 1/2 soilless potting medium and 1/2 perlite. It has thrived and grown very well in this type of mix for many years. I know it will probably be recommended that I add some grit to the mix. I may do that the next time I repot. But I have resisted the urge to play around with it's growing mix because it has done so well in what it's in now. It was repotted about a year ago, in the Spring.

These first two pictures are where the one trunk/branch simply broke off. It was very dry where it broke, even though the rest of the plant is fine (except where the other one broke, which was farther up). I don't have a pic of the actual part that came off because I tossed it when it came off the other day. The segments were too wilted to fool with trying to root them. But, over the years, I have started many new plants by rooting segments.

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These next two pictures are just 'fun' pictures. The first one shows a branch where the segments are in different stages of transitioning. And the second picture shows the pretty shrimp colored flower this plant has. This season has been the longest blooming season this plant has ever had. It started blooming in September, slowed by December, then started again and came into full bloom starting in January. As of now, it is still blooming.

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nomen_nudum, here is a picture of the whole plant. There are no deformed segments or holes in them....etc. The root-bound subject could be an issue. I have plans to repot it this Spring, into a larger pot that doesn't taper at the bottom like the 10" pot it is in now.

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Wouldn't worry to much over the broken trunk but would remove it from the rest of the plant when you re-pot. Optional use for the same: Maybe get it as a new separate plant in the same pot you have now if you wanted Although the effort would need some different care as the main plant and would also seem non productive for a while.

The new pot you have planned sounds good, not to much deeper but evenly wider from top to bottom.

Soilless mixes not sure what you mean by soilless ( as I am assuming bark based )

My opinion less grits to none will be okay IE why change what already works for both you and plant. Just as a reminder to allow some ample rest from the re pot time before returning it to the same location that you use now.

BTW Good job on cutting back and other maintenance over the years them are some nice trunks they provide a good clean view Over all it's a very nice looking plant having very good potential as a bonsai.