This retrospective study assessed the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of the Harlow Wood needle biopsy for spinal lesions. The medical records of 238 patients (138 men and 100 women) who underwent closed spine biopsy from 1987 through 1997 were reviewed. Patient age ranged from 21 to 83 years. Lesions involved the thoracic vertebrae in 127 patients, the lumbar vertebrae in 99 patients, and the sacrum in 12 patients. Cultures of the biopsy specimens were examined histopathologically and cytologically. One hundred twenty-four patients were diagnosed with a spinal infection, and 68 patients were diagnosed with a tumor. In the remaining 46 patients, the biopsy specimens were negative for infection or neoplasia in 20 patients and not diagnostic in 26 (10.9%) patients. There were no major complications. The Harlow Wood needle biopsy is a simple, repeatable procedure with satisfactory diagnostic accuracy (89.1%) and can be performed on an outpatient basis.