Objective To compare the application value and the clinical curative effect of longitudinal incision and tarsal sinus minimal-ly invasive approach in treatment of patients with intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods A retrospective statistical analysis was made by collecting and comparing the clinical data of 67 patients with intra-articular calcaneal fractures from March 2008 to March 2012,and they were divided into the longitudinal incision minimally invasive approach group ( ZW group,36 patients,37 feet) and the tarsal sinus minimally invasive approach group ( FW group,31 patients,33 feet) . The Bohler angle, Gissane angle before and after operation,complications healing time,and AOFAS scores were compared. Results The healing time,Bohler angle,Gissane angle of ZW group and other indicators were better than those of the FW group,but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0. 05). The infection of incision and compli-cations in ZW group was obviously less than those of the FW group (P<0. 05). According to the AOFAS scoring system,ZW group scored 82. 49 points while FW group scored 86. 53 points,which indicated no statistical significance (P>0. 05). Conclusion The two kinds of treatments are of no obvious difference,but the longitudinal small incision minimally invasive approach could receive better effect in terms of soft tissue damage,healing time,and postoperative complications.