The prognostic significance of gravity-induced trunk list and cross leg pain was investigated in 113 patients who had root tension signs from a lumbar disc lesion. Cross leg pain, (a positive contralateral straight leg raising sign) and list was associated with poor prognosis for conservative management. There was a high incidence of disc sequestration and extrusion in the operated patients with cross leg pain. It was concluded that cross leg pain is probably a contraindication to chymopapain injections, and the surgeon should be aware of the possibility of a migrated disc fragment during operation on patients with cross leg pain.