Patchell tested whether direct decompressive surgery plus radiotherapy improves ambulation over radiotherapy alone in spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer. Multi-institutional non-blinded RCT of 101 patients randomised to surgery then radiotherapy (n=50) or radiotherapy alone (n=51), both 30 Gy in ten fractions. Primary endpoint was ability to walk, analysed by intention to treat.
Patchell tested whether direct decompressive surgery plus radiotherapy improves ambulation over radiotherapy alone in spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer. Multi-institutional non-blinded RCT of 101 patients randomised to surgery then radiotherapy (n=50) or radiotherapy alone (n=51), both 30 Gy in ten fractions. Primary endpoint was ability to walk, analysed by intention to treat.