Abstract: Objective To compare the clinical efficacy, safety of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. Methods A total of 60 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases in Karamay Central Hospital from July 2018 to December 2019 were enrolled and divided into Endo-LIF group (30 cases) and MIS-TLIF group (30 cases) according to the surgery methods. Perioperative parameters, including operation time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, perioperative complications and postoperative fusion rates were recorded, respectively. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for back and leg, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were obtained preoperatively and 1 week, 3 months and 12 months after surgery, respectively. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, clinical diagnosis, fusion segment and follow-up time between the two groups(P＞0.05). The incision length, intraoperative blood loss and average hospital stay in Endo-LIF group were significantly lower than those in MIS-TLIF group. The VAS scores (lower back pain and leg pain), ODI and JOA scores in the two groups were significantly improved 1 week, 3 months and 12 months after surgery(P<0.05). The VAS score for back pain in Endo-LIF group was significantly lower than that in MIS-TLIF group 1 week and 3 months after surgery (P<0.05). The VAS score, ODI score and JOA score in Endo-LIF group were improved more significantly than those in MIS-TLIF group 3 months after surgery(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of the interbody fusion rate and adverse reaction rate between the two groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions Endo-LIF not only has a good clinical effect in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases, but also is a safe,minimally invasive technology, which is worthy of clinical application.

Key words: percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, lumbar degenerative diseases