OBJECTIVE: To compare 3 commonly used methods for drug delivery via the lumbar spinal subarachnoid space in rats. METHODS: We compared the effects of 3 methods for drug delivery via the lumbar spinal subarachnoid space in Sprague Dawley rats, namely acute needle puncture, chronic catheterization via laminectomy, and non-laminectomized catheterization. Body weight changes of the rats were measured, and their general and neurological conditions were assessed after the surgeries. The motor function of the rats was examined using rota rod test both before and after the surgeries. Nociceptive tests were performed to assess nociception of the rats. HE staining was used to examine local inflammation caused by the surgeries in the lumbar spinal cord tissue, and lidocaine paralysis detection and toluidine blue dye assay were used to confirm the precision of drug delivery using the 3 methods. RESULTS: Both needle puncture and catheterization via laminectomy resulted in a relatively low success rate of surgery and caused neurological abnormalities, severe motor dysfunction, hyperalgesia, allodynia and local inflammation. Catheterization without laminectomy had the highest success rate of surgery, and induced only mild agitation, slight cerebral spinal fluid leakage, mild sensory and motor abnormalities, and minimum pathology in the lumbar spinal cord. Catheterization without laminectomy produced less detectable effects on the behaviors in the rats and was well tolerated compared to the other two methods with also higher precision of drug delivery. CONCLUSIONS Catheterization without laminectomy is a safe, accurate and effective approach to lumbar drug delivery in rats.