OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of a superarticular external fixation brace combined with limited internal fixation in the treatment of unstable fractures of the distal radius and to compare it with external fixation with a small splint. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with complete follow-up data of unstable fractures of the distal radius seen in our hospital from March 2003 to August 2007 were analyzed and studied, including 56 cases in the external fixation brace fixation group (surgical group) and 32 cases in the small splint external fixation treatment group (conservative group), which were evaluated in terms of subjective functional assessment as well as objective indices such as imaging, wrist range of motion and grip strength. Results: All cases were clinically healed within 3 months, and the excellent rate of joint function assessment was 78.7% in the surgical group and 37.5% in the conservative group (P