9 randomized controlled trials (n=1,092 patients) which compared endoscopic discectomy to open discectomy for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation were included in this study. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare these two approaches on efficacy and safety. The results displayed a significantly greater patient satisfaction with endoscopic discectomy and no significant differences between groups in terms of clinical outcomes or complication rates. Endoscopic discectomy also displayed significantly lower blood loss and length of hospital stay when compared to open discectomy, and no significant differences were noted between groups in operative time, reoperation rate, or recurrence rates.