Primate Models of Spinal Repair

Nonhuman primate models (NHPs) of spinal injury and repair play an increasingly important role in the translation of promising rodent data to the spinal injured patient. This chapter discusses why NHP models of spinal injury are important and provides a description of each of the different lesion models that are currently being used. The pros and cons of using each type of lesion are outlined, as are the species options. A dorsal laminectomy, which is common to all spinal lesions, is also described.