Study details biportal endoscopic L7–S1 foraminotomy in dogs

Version 1 — Brief

A new Veterinary Surgery study describes a minimally invasive biportal endoscopic foraminotomy technique for the L7–S1 neuroforamen in dogs and compares it with conventional open dorsolateral foraminotomy in an ex vivo model, plus one clinical case. The paper, published online March 12, 2026, comes from investigators at the University of Zurich and collaborators, and reports that biportal endoscopic foraminotomy performed with a 3.0 mm arthroscope delivered better visualization and greater neuroforaminal enlargement than the open approach, while the first client-owned dog treated with the method had immediate resolution of clinical signs. The authors conclude the arthroscope-based technique appears safe and effective, but stress that larger clinical studies are still needed. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary surgeons and neurologists managing lumbosacral foraminal stenosis, the study adds to a growing body of canine spine literature exploring whether endoscopic approaches can reduce tissue disruption while improving access and visualization. That’s especially relevant in a region where conventional decompression can be technically demanding and where prior veterinary work has shown both the promise of endoscopic assistance and the ongoing challenge of maintaining durable foraminal enlargement over time. Related recent canine studies have also explored biportal endoscopic approaches in the thoracolumbar, cervical, and lumbosacral spine, suggesting the field is moving beyond proof of concept toward procedure-specific applications. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: The next question is whether this technique can show reproducible outcomes, manageable learning curves, and durable clinical benefit in larger prospective case series. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)