Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy for ureteral calculi and analyze the influencing factors of postoperative urinary tract infection. Methods The clinical data of 140 patients with ureteral calculi who underwent flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative clinical indicators including visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, oxidative stress indicators (serum malondialdehyde, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels), and stone clearance rate were compared. All patients were divided into infection group and non-infection group according to the presence or absence of postoperative infection. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for postoperative urinary tract infection in patients. Results Compared with patients' preoperative levels, postoperative pain VAS scores decreased, while the levels of serum malondialdehyde, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone increased (P<0.05). Among the 140 patients, 129 achieved postoperative stone clearance, with an overall stone clearance rate of 92.14%. Postoperative urinary tract infection occurred in 32 patients, corresponding to an infection rate of 22.86%. There were statistically significant differences between the infection group and non-infection group in stone diameter, operative duration, indwelling time of double-J stent, degree of hydronephrosis, preoperative white blood cell count and neutrophil count, preoperative serum C-reactive protein and cystatin C levels (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated preoperative white blood cell count, evaluated preoperative serum C-reactive protein level, double-J stent indwelling time >7 days, stone diameter >3 cm, operative duration >60 min and severe hydronephrosis were risk factors for postoperative urinary tract infection (P<0.05). Conclusion Flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy achieves effective pain relief with minimal invasiveness and satisfactory stone clearance in patients with ureteral calculi. Elevated preoperative white blood cell count and high serum C-reactive protein level, double-J stent indwelling duration >7 days, stone diameter >3 cm, operative duration >60 min and severe hydronephrosis are risk factors for postoperative urinary tract infection.