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I have encountered this sentence in an editing assignment

Many patients continue to have pain and limited function and require some other forms of treatment.

I was wondering if this is equivalent to the following sentence?

Many patients, who continue to have pain and limited function, require some other forms of treatment.

Are these two equivalent in meaning? If so, which one seems better? I thank all helpers.

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    The problem with sample #1 is the setup with A and B and C. Yet A and B are a pair, and C is a later point. As #2 fixes that confusion, he's your winner. You can have apples and cinnamon and hot tea, but you sow chaos with apples and cinnamon and take that to the bank.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Nov 22, 2020 at 4:41

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They are equivalent. Some people may trouble about the commas in the second one but they say the same thing. They are so close that there is hardly a reason to choose one or the other. One being used rather than another could depend on the emphasis you wish to make. Whether the continued pain etc. is important or the nature of the additional treatment. The choice may also depend on whether the audience could understand the first sentence. As you have had some question you would know where it is being read. Further context would help make the choice clear.

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  • @Elliott thank you the question reads "Which is the better editorial revision?"
    – user259700
    Commented Nov 22, 2020 at 3:42
  • I did not see editorial in the question but as the next answer details, it depends on what you are trying to emphasize.
    – Elliot
    Commented Nov 22, 2020 at 3:50
  • "The choice may also depend on whether the audience could understand the first sentence." - How many people will have trouble understanding the first sentence and yet not also have trouble with the second?
    – nnnnnn
    Commented Nov 22, 2020 at 4:00
  • @nnn etal The question was about the first sentence, the second was an explanation. I don't understand otherwise.
    – Elliot
    Commented Nov 24, 2020 at 3:22
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Many patients continue to have pain and limited function and require some other forms of treatment.

The sentence above indicates that the current patients already have an issue and require treatment.

Many patients who continue to have pain and limited function, require some other forms of treatment.

The sentence above indicates that there are no patients with issues or you have not yet identified them, once they're identified, they will need to be treated.

Patients who continue to have pain and limited function may require some other forms of treatment.

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