Objective To comparatively analyze the clinical effects of volar locking compression titanium plate and external fixation trestle for treating unstable type C distal radius fracture.Methods The clinical data of 78 patients with unstable type C distal radius fracture treated in this hospital from March 2014 to February 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were di-vided into the volar locking plate group and external fixattio trestle group according to different treatment methods,39 cases in each group.The clinical efficacies of different treatment methods were observed.Results The postoperative bleeding volume,operation time,hospitalization time and fracture healing time in the external fixation group were less than those in the volar locking plate frac-ture group(P<0.05).The palmar tilt angle,ulnar inclination angle and radial height on postoperative 3 d,6 weeks and 24 mopnths in the volar locking plate group were significantly better than those in the external fixation group(P<0.05).The last follow-up showed that the palmar flexion degree,dorsiflexion degree,VAS score and Gartland-Werley score had no statistical difference be-tween the two groups(P>0.05).The incidence rates of postoperative incision infection,carpal tunnel syndrome and thumb extensor tendon rupture had no statistical differences between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The two kinds of treatment method all have better clinical curative effect.The external fixation trestle treatment has the advantages of shorter operation time and shorter hospitalization time,while the volar locking compression titanium plate can reset the fractures under direct vision,is significantly su-perior to the external fixation trestle treatment in the aspects of recovery of palmar tilt angle,ulnar inclination angle and radial height,and is more suitable for the patients with unstable type C distal radius fracture..