OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of the direct inferior endplate approach in percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) for the treatment of L5-S1 disc herniation. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 116 patients with L5-S1 disc herniation treated with PEID
74 patients underwent surgery via the direct inferior endplate approach (group A), and 42 patients underwent surgery via the indirect approach (group B). The number of intraoperative fluoroscopy exposures, establishment channel time, operation time, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Compared with those in Group B, the channel establishment time, number of fluoroscopy exposures, and operation time in Group A were significantly lower (P <
0.05). There was no significant difference in the VAS score or ODI between the two groups (P >
0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the indirect approach, the direct inferior endplate approach can allow the exposed target to be reached more quickly, shorten the operation time, and reduce the degree of radiation exposure of doctors and patients, resulting in a high safety profile.