Objective   To compare the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) with microendoscopic discectomy (MED) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.    Methods   In this prospective randomized controlled study

a total of 60 matched patients preoperatively diagnosed as single lumbar disc herniation from December 2007 to June 2008 in our department were randomly divided into 2 groups

30 patients in each. They received discectomy as above mentioned. The Oswestry disability index (ODI)

visual analogue scale (VAS)

and modified MacNab criteria were employed to measure the clinical outcomes.    Results   All the procedures were performed successfully. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups on disc herniation types

operative time

fellow-up time and complication rate. But PTED group had an average blood loss of 7±2 ml

and were postoperatively kept in bed for a mean duration of 1 d

while for MED group

the loss blood was 48±13 ml

and a mean stay-in-bed was 4.2 d (ranging from 3 to 5 d). According to the modified Macnab criteria

90% of patients in PELD group showed excellent or good outcomes while 93% of patients in MED group had such outcomes. There was no significant difference in this between the 2 groups (P0.05). VAS and ODI were significantly improved in the 2 groups compared with those before operation (P0.05).    Conclusion   The short-term outcome of PTED for lumbar disc herniation is similar to that of MED if the patients are selected strictly according to the indications. PTED has the advantages of smaller incision

lesser bleeding

lesser tissue impairment and quicker recovery. It is a safe and efficacious minimally invasive surgical technique.