Purpose To determine if minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) using the Medtronic^® Sextant system is a reliable surgical treatment option in patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation, compared with the traditional open procedure. Patients and methods Clinical and radiographic data were retrospectively collected from a total of 33 patients who underwent single level lumbar fusion between 2007 and 2010. 14 underwent minimally invasive TLIF using the Sextant system, and the other 19 patients underwent the open procedure. All patients suffered from at least first recurrent lumbar disc herniation, and additionally from disc degeneration associated with erosive chondrosis Modic grade I-II due to previous surgical, non-instrumental interventions. Results Median operation time in the minimally invasive group was 140 min (95-190); average X-ray exposure time: 2.35 min (1.5-3.5); median postoperative resting time in hospital: 5 days (3-7). Postoperative pain relief and mobility improvement were documented with the visual analogue scale (6.9-3.0) and the Oswestry Disability Index (6.8-2.4). All patients benefited from surgery at follow up. These data were on many terms significantly superior compared with data of patients in the open surgery group. Conclusion Percutaneous minimally invasive TLIF technique with the Medtronic^® Sextant system is a gentle, tissue protecting and safe alternative procedure for lumbar fusion in patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation and erosive chondrosis.