Objective: To evaluate the effect of adjustable spinal external fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture from an imageological point of view. Methods: 30 patients of thoracolumbar fracture were treated by manual reduction and the new-style adjustable spinal external fixation; and 30 other patients from the control group were treated with pillow.Prior to and after the treatment, the subjects were examined by X-ray and CT so we could compare the height of injured column and Cobb's angle between the two groups. Results: Inside the experimental group, all the patients' column height and cobb's angle had significantly(P<0.05) improved compared to those from the control group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups immediately after the treatment and 8 weeks later in observation indicators of imageology(P>0.05). Conclusion: Adjustable spinal external fixation has significant curative power in treating thoracolumbar fracture in terms of restoring or maintaining the height of the injured column. In addition, this treatment is less expesive and easier to operate, produces smalled damages, and the patients also recover faster.