A novel risk calculator to predict outcome after surgery for symptomatic spinal metastases; use of a large prospective patient database to personalise surgical management.

•Surgery for symptomatic spinal metastases takes many forms.•Choice of operation depends on indications balanced by the patient's prognosis.•Previous systems for estimating prognosis are now outdated.•Risk calculators allow a contemporary estimation of survival.•We developed an Internet-based risk calculator for survival after spine surgery.