A prospective randomized study to compare discectomy without (DE) and with fusion (DEF) included 63 patients operated on with DE returned to work during the first 9 weeks postoperatively than patients operated on with DEF (p less than 0.005 to 0.05). The prognosis is significantly better for men than for women after DEF (p less than 0.005), while no difference can be shown after DE.