A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the surgical procedures of the disc herniation into or lateral to the foramen. 14 cases which were confirmed at surgery were analysed and compared with the conventional herniations. The cases had ages from 32 to 66 years with average 50.9. They had no or mild back pain while the leg pain was very prominent in most of the cases. The discs below third lumbar were all involved. There were 8 foraminal and 6 extraforaminal herniations. The discectomies were performed through total facetectomy in 5, partial facetectomy in 2, paraspinal approach in 4 and autostabilization in 3 cases. The results of treatment were satisfactory in 10 (83.3%) of 12 cases which were followed for more than 1 year to 4 years and 2 months with average 2 years and 3 months. In conclusion the far lateral herniations occurred in older age group and presented prominent leg pain compared with the conventional herniations. The discectomy for the lumbosacral junction required total facetectomy while in the upper segment paraspinal approach was good for the extraforaminal herniation and partial facetectmy or autostabilization was possible for the foraminal herniation. The result of treatment was comparable to the conventional herniations.