Abstract: [Objective] To compare clinical efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. [Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on 64 patients who received lumber fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases from June 2020 to June 2021. According to the doctor-patient communication, 30 patients underwent navigational unidirectional OLIF, while other 34 patients received MI-TLIF. The documents regarding peri-operative period, follow-up and imaging were compared between the two groups. [Results] The OLIF group was significantly superior to the MI-TLIF group in terms of operation time [min, (115.3±12.1) vs (150.6±16.8), P<0.001], ambulation time [days, (1.9±0.6) vs (3.2±0.7), P< 0.001] and postoperative hospital stay [days, (5.6±0.8) vs (6.1±0.9), P=0.022], despite of the fact that the former had significantly longer incision than the latter [cm, (11.4±1.6) vs (7.4±1.2), P<0.001]. The follow-up time was of (14.8±2.3) months, and the OLIF group resumed full weight bearing activity significantly earlier than the MI-TLIF group [days, (26.4±3.2) vs (46.4±4.1), P<0.001]. As time went on, the VAS, ODI and JOA scores of patients in both groups were significantly improved (P<0.05). The OLIF group was significantly better than the MI-TLIF group in low back pain VAS score [points, (3.1±0.9) vs (3.9±0.8), P<0.001] and JOA score [points, (17.8±1.8) vs (16.5±1.6), P= 0.003] 3 months after surgery. As for imaging, the vertebral canal area, intervertebral height and lumbar lordosis angle were significantly increased in both groups at the last follow-up compared with those preoperatively (P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the OLIF group had significantly greater intervertebral height [mm, (10.9±1.5) vs (8.9±1.5), P<0.001] and lumbar lordotic angle [°, (43.2±5.8) vs (39.7±7.4), P=0.038] than the MI-TLIF group, although there were no significant differences in spinal canal area and Bridwell fusion grade between the two groups (P>0.05). [Conclusion] Both OLIF and MI-TLIF achieve satisfactory clinical consequences in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. OLIF is a more minimally invasive surgical technique with advantages of short operation time, quick postoperative recovery and mild early lumbago over the MI-TLIF