Transforaminal endoscopic discectomy maybe used much as percutaneous discectomy is used to decompress a symptomatic bulging lumbar disc.
First the disc is entered via annulotomy and the endoscope is advanced using anoutside-in approach; under direct visualization abnormal jelly-like nucleuspulposus is selectively removed decompressing the bulging doughnut rim or displaced annulus.

This approach allows the surgeon to directly visualize the disc bulge and complete the decompression.