The article presents a one-year material of 41 women and 59 men with chronic low-back disorders. Patients who had undergone back surgery and patients with inflammatory disease, fibromyalgia and somatoform disorders were excluded. Median age was 39 years, and median time off work was 16 months. Neurological deficits were found in the lower extremities in 48%. Of the 48 patients with calf symptoms, 60% had neurological deficits. Of 22 patients with thigh symptoms, 45% had neurological deficits, and such deficits were found in 30% of the 30 patients with back pain only. Relevant roentgenographic findings were obtained in 84%; decreased disc height, osteoarthritic facet joints, end-plate fracture, narrow bony canal, disc bulge and disc prolapse. It is concluded that, in the evaluation of low-back disorders, survey x-ray examination is a valuable and necessary supplement to a detailed history and thorough clinical examination.