BACKGROUND: Neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy is a new technique in the field of treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus patients. This new technique allows the operator to visualize directly the epidural space and contiguous structures, thus allowing for detailed examination leading to a better understanding of the role of epidural adhesion in the development of sciatica. The aim of this prospective study is to determine effects of neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy in herniated nucleus pulposus patients. METHODS: Twelve patients with herniated disc were taken neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy. The patients were followed with verbal rating scale(VRS) for 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after neuroplasty. RESULTS: Four patients were posterocentral type and eight pateints were posterlateral type. The effects of neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy in posterolateral type were significantly higher than that of posterocentral type. But, age, duration of back pain and amount of irrigation saline were not related to effects of neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that it is important to determine posterocentral type or posterolateral type on MRI before neuroplasty by spinal endoscopy and the effects of treatment is well in posterolateral type.