100 patients diagnosed with prolapsed discs were randomized to receive either the minimally invasive microscopic assisted percutaneous nucleotomy (MAPN) or the standard microscopic discotomy (MC). The MAPN procedure has been proposed to reduce surgical and recovery times when compared to the standard MC procedure. This study assessed if MAPN reduced both surgical and recovery times and if it was dependant on the experience of the surgeon. The results indicated that MAPN resulted in decreased operative and recovery times, but this result was only evident in the center with an experienced surgeon.