Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of microscopic-assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar disc herniation. Methods 80 patients with lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients were divided into 2 groups according to the surgical method: 41 patients underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion assisted with microscope and channel(MIS-TLIF group), and 39 patients underwent open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(Open-TLIF group). The amount of the intraoperative blood loss, operation time and postoperative hospital stays were compared between the two groups. The clinical results of the two groups were evaluated by ODI and VAS scores. The lumbar interbody fusion was assessed by the Suk’s method. Results The intraoperative blood loss in MIS-TLIF group was significantly less than those in the Open-TLIF group(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the operation time and the postoperative hospital stays between the 2 groups(P>0.05). The postoperative ODI and VAS score at each follow up point were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones in 2 groups(P<0.05). The ODI and the VAS score of MIS-TLIF group were significantly better than those of Open-TLIF group at 6 weeks and 3 months(P<0.05). Superficial infection of incision occurred in 1 case in the Open-TLIF group. There were no complications such as infection in the MIS-TLIF group. All of the patients had complete fusion of the segmental vertebral at the last follow up. Conclusion Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion assisted with microscope and channel is effective, safe and reliable for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, with less injury, less blood loss and early postoperative recovery.