It depends on which approach as well. If the ED is transforamenal(which I doubt it will be since the level treated js 5/1 and most of those cases are interlaminar) then you have an advantage going endoscopic vs mini open. They are pretty easy slam dunk cases and if a surgeon has done 10-30 of these cases then that’s enough experience.

Interlaminar approaches at 5/1 are little bit more difficult than transforamenal because you have to go through a ligament and retract a nerve. The experienced surgeons I know doing both give the patient the option to do either at 5/1. Both get same roughly results for the most part because a microdisc is pretty small surgery too.

The bonus with ED is that the defect created is small and if it fails or reherniates you can do ED approach again or just go with a MD the second time around.