[Objective] To explore the effect of different approaches and positions for the treatment of L5/S1 disc herniation. [Methods] The clinical data of 96 cases of L5/S1 disc herniation treated by intervertebral foramen surgery in our hospital from February 2016 to February 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the different surgical approach and body position, the patients were divided into three groups: group A, group B and group C. The patients in group A were treated with conventional prone position + intervertebral foramen approach, group B with modified prone position + intervertebral foramen approach, and group C with conventional prone position + intervertebral foramen approach. The intraoperative condition, postoperative visual analogue score (VAS), lumbar curvature index (LCI), intervertebral space height and complications of the three groups were compared. [Results] There was no significant difference between the three groups (P>0.05). The incidence of complications in group B was the lowest, and there was no significant difference among the three groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS and LCI among the three groups (P>0.05), and vas of each time point after operation was significantly better than that before operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in LCI and intervertebral space height between groups before operation (P>0.05); there was no significant difference in LCI and intervertebral space height loss between groups at 1 year after operation and at 1 year after operation (P>0.05). [Conclusion] Three methods can significantly improve the patients' waist and leg pain. In terms of operative time and complications, the improved approach of the lower intervertebral foramen in prone position is more advantageous. For the L5/S1 disc herniation, the change of body position can effectively reduce the impact of the iliac crest, so as to successfully complete the operation through the intervertebral foramen. For the L5/S1 disc herniation with high iliac crest, we can try to adopt the inter laminar approach or the modified prone position of the inter laminar approach, but we should be alert to the occurrence of complications such as nerve injury and adhesion caused by the interference of the inter laminar approach to the spinal canal.