Objective To provide the basis for whether the foraminoplasty should be performed or not in the treatment of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy according to the clinical classification of far lateral lumbar disc herniation. Methods From January 2013 to March 2016

52 patients with far lateral lumbar disc herniation were treated by percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy via posterior lateral approach.According to the locations of the herniated disc

it can be divided into type Ⅰ

Ⅱ

Ⅲ and Ⅳ.The patients with type Ⅱ recieved the operation plan A without foraminoplasty(group A

n=21)

while patients with type Ⅰ

Ⅲ and Ⅳ received the operation plan B with foraminoplasty(group B

n=31).The operation time

bleeding volume and complications of the two groups were recorded.Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were used to evaluate the pain and dysfunction of patients before operation

3 days

3 months after operation and the last followup.Macnab criteria was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy at the last followup. Results All 52 patients successfully received the operationwithout serious complications such as postoperative infection and intraoperative nerve root injury and tear of the dural sac.The operation time and the amount of bleeding in group A were less than those in group B

the differences were significant（P＜0.05）.All patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months

with an average of (11±2.3)months.VAS score of low back pain and leg pain and lumbar ODI score at 3 days

3 months and the last followup after operation were significantly different from those before operation(P<0.05).In the last followup

the Macnab efficacy score showed that 41 cases were excellent

9 cases were good and 2 cases were acceptable.The excellent and good rate was 96.15%. Conclusion The clinical classification of far lateral lumbar disc herniation is of great significance for understanding the pathological changes of the disease and the selection of surgery methods for percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy.In clinical practice

foraminoplasty should be selectively performed according to different types.Type Ⅱ patients do not need foraminoplasty

and type Ⅰ

Ⅲ and Ⅳ patients should choose foraminoplasty.