Objective To evaluate the MSCT diagnosis value of transverse compact zone (CTZ) in thoracolumbar latent fracture. Materials and Methods The image data of 22 cases with 26 thoracolumbar latent fracture confirmed by multi-slice spiral CT were divided into control group, which were only observed the conventional horizontal axial soft tissue or bone window images, and experimental group, observed multiple planar reconstruction(MPR) soft tissue or lone window images respectively, and then all fracture sings such as fracture line, bone trabecular interruption, bone cortex interruption, bone trabecular cluster, bone cortical fold, transverse compact zone and soft tissue swelling were retrospectively analyzed. Results 10 cases of vertebral fractures, correctly in 38% in the first examination, including 4 cases of fracture line (in 15%), 3 cases of bone cortex interruption(in 11%) and 8 cases of bone trabecular cluster (in 31%) were found in control group. 26 vertebral fractures in 22 cases, correctly in 100% in the first examination, including 4 cases of fracture line(in 15%), 1 cases of bone trabecular interruption (in 4%), 4 cases of bone cortex interruption (in 15%), 2 cases of bone cortical hold (in 7%) and 26 transverse compact zone (in 100%) were found. Conclusion CTZ is one of the important signs for MSCT to diagnose thoracolumbar vertebra latent fracture and may be a sole sign in simple bone trabecular micro fracture.