To compare the effects of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy (PTED) and percutaneous interlaminar endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PIED) on lumbar disc herniation.

The medical data of 72 patients with lumbar disc herniation in the People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou from September 2015 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-eight of them were allocated into PTED group (treated by PTED), and 34 patients were allocated into PIED group (treated by PIED). Perioperative parameters (operative time, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, postoperative bedridden time, hospital stay), preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), total clinical effective rate and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.

The operative time and intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency in PTED group were larger than those in PIED group, and the bedridden time was less than that in PIED group (P all<0.05). And there was no significant difference in the hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS score and ODI in the two groups after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (P all<0.05), but the differences in postoperative score between the two groups were not statistically significant (P all>0.05). The excellent and good rates in PTED group and PIED group were 94.73%(36/38) and 91.18%(31/34) respectively, and there were no significant differences in the excellent and good rate between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence rate of complications in PTED group (5.26%, 2/38) was lower than that in PIED group (14.71%, 5/34), P>0.05.

Both PTED and PIED are effective and safe treatment methods for lumbar disc herniation. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. In clinical practice, a personalized approach is needed to ensure efficacy.

Lumbar disc herniation; Percutaneous; Discectomy; Transforaminal approach; Interlaminar approach