Most fractures of the thoracolumbar vertebral bodies are stable. Stable fractures commonly include anterior or lateral wedging fractures, and fractures of less than 50% of anterior wedging deformity without neurologic deficit. The functional treatment is now widely accepted as the ideal form of management of stable thoracolumbar fractures. The authors measured correction of anterior and middle column height, kyphotic angle and loss of correction of 82 cases of stable thoracolumbar fractures treated with hyperextension body cast (Watson-Jones cast)comparing with functional brace at the Dept. of Orthopaedic surgery, Haesung Hospital from Dec. 1983 to Jun. 1990. The results were as follows; 1. According to classification of Denis, burst type B was most common (58.5%). The most frequent injured level was first lumbar vertebra(35.4%). 2. Measurement of correction of kyphotic angle and anterior column height were 8.9°, 13.4% after reduction, but loss of correction were 6.3V, 11.1% and final correction were 2.6°, 2.3% in hyperextension body cast, and final correction were 0.8°, 0.7% in functional treatment with brace. 2. Residual pain and range of motion of back were found no significant difference between two groups at long term follow up.