Abstract:[Objective] To compare the clinical efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion with large channel (PE-LIF) versus open posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for single-level and low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis. [Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on 56 patients who received lumbar fusion for the single-level and low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis in our hospital from January 2020 to February 2023. According to preoperative dock-patient communication, 27 patients underwent PELIF, while other 29 patients received PLIF. The perioperative, follow-up and imaging data were compared between the two groups. [Results] The PELIF group proved significantly superior to the PLIF group in terms of total incision length [(8.3±1.5) cm vs (10.2±2.2) cm, P<0.001], intraoperative blood loss [(151.9±99.5) ml vs (303.5±117.2) ml, P<0.001], time to return walking [(2.2±0.9) days vs (3.3±0.9) days, P<0.001], hospitalization [5.9±1.8) days vs (8.6±2.3) days, P<0.001], despite of the fact that the former was significantly inferior to the latter in terms of operative time [(178.3±32.5) min vs (134.5±27.4) min, P<0.001] and intraoperative fluoroscopy times [(34.3±7.1) times vs (12.0±4.0) times, P< 0.001]. There was no significant difference in intraoperative complication rate and incision healing grade between the two groups (P>0.05). As time went on during follow-up period lasted for (16.3±2.6) months, VAS score for leg pain, VAS score for back pain, ODI score and JOA score significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05). The PELIF group had significantly lower lumbago VAS score than the PLIF group 3 days postoperatively [(2.6±1.9) vs (4.0±1.8), P=0.005], whereas there were no significant differences in the leg pain VAS score, ODI and JOA scores between the two groups at any time points accordingly (P>0.05). As for imaging, the lumbar lordosis angle, intervertebral space height, slipping rate and spinal canal area significantly improved in both groups after surgery compared with those preoperatively (P<0.05), while which were not statistically different between the two groups at any corresponding time points (P>0.05). [Conclusion] Both PELIF and open PLIF can achieve satisfactory efficacy in the treatment of low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis, but PELIF has the advantages of less trauma and quick recovery in early stage after operation over the PLIF.