Abstract: Objective To study the curative effect of X-tube system-assisted minimally invasive surgery transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF) on degenerative lumbar diseases. Methods Clinical data about 52 patients with single segment degenerative lumbar disease who underwent MIS-TLIF from October 2010 to September 2011 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Their visual analogue score(VAS) of back and leg pain 3 and 5 days, 3 and 6 months, and 1 year after MIS-TLIF, their Oswestry disability index(ODI) 1 day, 3 and 6 months, and 1 year after MIS-TLIF, their Nakai curative effect and Bridwell spinal fusion classification were compared with those of 38 controls after traditional posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF). Results No significant difference was observed in the general clinical data between the two groups(P>0.05). The VAS of back pain was significantly lower in patients 3 and 5 days and 3 months after MIS-TLIF than in those after PLIF(PP>0.05). Conclusion The curative effect of MIS-TLIF is better than that of PLIF on degenerative lumber disease. The back pain is milder after MIS-TLIF than after PLIF.