Objective To analyze the diagnostic values of different imaging methods for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods A total of 45 cases of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures from August 2014 to August 2016 in our hospital were collected for the study and examined by X ray, CT and MRI respectively. The detection rates of vertebral morphological changes, fracture line, spinal stenosis and accessory fracture were compared between the three methods. Results The detection rate of proportion of vertebral morphological changes by the 3 kinds of imaging methods was the same with 100% (P>0.05). The detection rate of fracture line, spinal stenosis and accessory fracture of CT scan were 91.1%, 22.2% and 20% respectively, which were higher than those in the X-ray or MRI examination (P<0.05). MRI had an advantage in differential diagnosis of old or new fractures and the etiology of vertebral compression fractures. Conclusion X-ray examination as a preferred and traditional fracture method still have the value of preliminary diagnosis in the examination for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, and CT examination can increase the detection rate of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and have important clinical value in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, and MRI for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures can help identify the old or new disease, Therefore the three imaging methods can be chosen according to the condition.