Objective    Comparative study of the efficacy of  vertebral side clearance and the traditional approach nailing technology application on thoracolumbar fracture.    Methods    From April 2011 to December 2012, a total of 142 patients with thoracolumbar fractures underwent surgical treatment in our hospital. The patients were randomly divided into observation group (71 cases) and control group (71 cases) in a digital method. Patients in both groups of underwent pedicle screw surgery in a posterior approach patients in the observation group  received the paraspinal muscle pedicle screw technology; patients in the control group  received the set nail technology through the traditional approach. The surgical length, blood loss and drainage were compared in both groups during the surgery. VAS score and correction rate of postoperative vertebral height were compared 3 d, 1 month and 6 months after surgery.   Results   In the study group, the surgical duration was (89.52±12.15) min, blood loss was (139.61±36.25) ml, drainage was (99.62±9.15) ml, which was significantly lower than the control group (138.57±9.98) min, (413.54±29.83) ml, (373.14±11.83) ml. Differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). In 3 d, 1 month, half a year after the surgery,  VAS score in the observation group was  (5.01±0.98), (2.33±1.13) and (0.71±0.69), respectively, which was significantly lower than that in the control group being (5.55±1.15), (3.09±1.25) and (1.74±0.85), respectively  (P <0.05). The correct rate of the observation group was （96.80±2.51）%, and of the control group was （95.68±2.89）%. There was no statistically significant difference（P>0.05）.   Conclusion    Paraspinal muscle pedicle screw technology , having the advantages of  being shorter in surgical duration, as reliable as the traditional approach when it comes to the correction rate, and deliver a good surgical outcome, is worthy of promotion.