Background: The optimal surgical approach in treating lumbar brucellosis (LBS) has not been determined. This study aims to compare the surgical efficacy of anterior approach and combined posterior and anterior approach in treating LBS.Method: A retrospectively cohort study included LBS patients undergoing lumber surgery in the Department of Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedics, Hebei Province from June 2012 to June 2016. According surgical approach, patients were divided into two groups; patients with one-stage anterior approach were classified into group A, and the rest of patients with combined posterior and anterior approach were group B. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss and, hospitalization stay were recorded to compare the surgical risk of two groups. In terms of treatment efficacy, visual analogue scale (VAS), bone graft fusion, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed and compared before and after surgery.Results: Eight-nine patients with LBS were included into the study. Fifty cases were males, and 39 patients were female. The mean age of this cohort was 61.9 ± 12 years, ranging from 23 to 78 years. Forty-nine patients were divided into group A, undergoing anterior debridement and bone graft fusion. Forty patients underwent posterior fixation combined with anterior approach (group B). The operation time of group A was 30 minutes shorter than that of group B. Group A had less intraoperative blood loss (800 vs. 900 ml; P <0.001). Hospital stay was four days shorter in group A. At the last follow-up, all patients were in good condition with ASIA Level E and ESR returned to normal. The bone fusion rate of Bridwell bone was 89.29% (45/49) and 80.00% (38/40) of group A and group B, respectively. In terms of surgical efficacy, there was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups before and after operation (P > 0.05). Conclusions: One-stage anterior approach and combine posterior-anterior approach had no significant difference in terms of clinical efficacy. Individualized surgical treatment should be suggested in patients with complicated LBS and ineffective therapeutic treatment. Trial registration: This study has been retrospectively registered in local ethical Institution Review Board(No:[2020]068).