**3. Results**

Mean patient ages were 59.93 years in the male group (range, 52–85 years) and 67.33 years in the female group (range, 52–86 years) (*p* = 0.000; independent *t*-test). Other demographic comparisons, including sex and body mass index (BMI), are shown in Table 1. All parameters differed significantly between the male and female groups.

#### *3.1. Functional Mobility Test Results and Actual Falls*

The pre- and postoperative values of the four functional tests in the male and female groups are presented in Table 2. In both groups, preoperative measures improved significantly at postoperative 3 months and 1 year, except STS (*p* = 0.000, 0.000, and 0.000 for AST, SMT, and TUGT, respectively; ANOVA; Figure 1). All measures were significantly different between the male and female groups, except preoperative falls and AST, at postoperative 1 year.


**Table 2.** Comparison of functional test results between male and female patients.

Statistical analyses were performed by independent *t*-test and \* chi-squared test. NS, not significant.

**Figure 1.** The pre- and postoperative values of the four functional tests depending on the patient groups. Preoperative measures were improved significantly at postoperative 3 months and 1 year in the male and female patient groups (*p* = 0.000 for all; ANOVA). \* indicates the statistical difference between measures.

The average number of actual falls per patient among all patients during follow up was 0.48 ± 1.82 in the preoperative group, 0.09 ± 0.37 at postoperative 3 months, and 0.09 ± 0.43 at postoperative 1 year (*p* = 0.000; ANOVA). A significant difference was found in the distribution of non-fallers and fallers (single-time and multiple fallers) between preoperative and postoperative follow up among all patients (*p* = 0.005; chi-squared test). During follow up, no neurology deterioration related to falls was recorded.

#### *3.2. QoL Outcomes: EQ-VAS, NDI, and mJOA Score and Grade*

Mean EQ-VAS scores were 48.62 ± 23.79 preoperatively, 58.55 ± 22.48 at 3 months postoperatively, and 60.31 ± 17.88 at 1 year postoperatively in all patients (*p* = 0.000; ANOVA). Mean NDI values in all patients were 17.31 ± 7.77 preoperatively, 14.82 ± 5.73 at 3 months postoperatively, and 12.68 ± 9.06 at 1 year postoperatively (*p* = 0.000; ANOVA). Other mJOA scores and grade measures also improved after surgery in all patients (*p* = 0.013 and 0.010, respectively; ANOVA). The results are presented in Table 3.

**Table 3.** Comparison of functional test results between male and female patients.


Statistical analyses were performed by independent *t*-test and \* chi-squared test between the male and female groups. NS, not significant.
