Abstract: Nowadays, percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) and microscopic endoscopic disectomy (MED) are common techniques for lumbar disc herniation and stenosis. Similar to traditional fenestration, MED is performed via interlamina approach, and is suitable for most cases of lumbar disc herniation and stenosis. And the mobile MED (MMED) used by author is beneficial to expose and manipulation. The PTED is performed during normal saline irrigation via natural transforaminal or interlamina approach. Compared to MED, PTED is less invasive and has relatively limited operating range, which depends on accurate puncture. MED and PTED have their particular standard and skills, and their indication is crossed and complementary. These two techniques can be selected according to specific conditions of patients.

Key words: lumar vertebrae, intervertebral disc displacement, surgical treatment, endoscopy