Following the use of rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS) in 1984 and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 1987, the treatment for ureteral stones has undergone significant changes. Our experience showed that the successful rate of URS for 132 patients was 89.4% and for the upper third was rather low, percutaneous antegrade URS should be considered. 376 patients treated with ESWL in prone position with a successful rate of 96.8%. The applicability of open surgery was reduced to 17.8% in 1987 and 14.5% in 1988.