Animal model for studying the chronic effects of herniated disks and spinal surgery.

A successful model to study both herniated intervertebral disks and spinal operations such as laminectomy has not been described. Two procedures were developed in nonhuman primates: One produces an elevated nerve root simulating a herniated disk; the second is a laminectomy that simulates the operation in humans. Twenty-five surgical procedures were performed with no complications. A myelographic abnormality typical of a disk herniation results from the simulated disk herniation. The chronic effects of herniated disk and spinal surgery can be studied with this model.