Sixty patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation confirmed by computerized tomography were studied in a randomized prospective study. The aim was to see if there was any difference between the microscopic removal of a disc herniation and the standard procedure. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon by either method. They were all followed up by an impartial observer at 3 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year. There were no differences between the groups regarding perioperative bleeding, complications, inpatient stay, time off work, or end result. The authors concluded that the decision to use the operating microscope may be left to the surgeon, because it had no effect on the short-term results or those at 1 year.