Objective To evaluate the operative time and complications at different stages of discoscopic nucleus pulposus removal and to investigate the learning curve of discoscopic nucleus pulposus removal. Methods A retrospective analysis of 48 patients with single-segment disc herniation treated by discoscopic nucleus pulposus removal from October 2003 to July 2007, with the attending surgeon as the first author, was performed and divided into 3 groups (A, B, C) in order of surgery, with 16 cases in each group, to compare the operative time and the occurrence of surgical complications in each group. There was no significant difference in age, gender, and protruding segment between the three groups (P＞0.05). 106±22.3min was the operative time in group A, 94.1±29.3mim in group B, and 81.6±22.3min in group C. There was no significant difference in operative time between group A and group B, and between group B and group C. There was a significant difference in operative time between group A and group C. Two cases in group A had a significant difference in operative time between group B and group C. There were 2 cases of intraoperative dural tear in group A and 1 case of conversion to open surgery, 3 cases of postoperative recurrence in group B, and no complications in group C. Conclusion The learning curve for discoscopic nucleus pulposus removal is approximately 32 cases to achieve a higher degree of volume.