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The objective of the present study was to analyze the clinical and functional outcome after minimally-invasive implantation of a Repicci-type unicompartmental sledge prosthesis . In 29 patients with primary unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis, 29 replacements of the medial compartment and four of the lateral compartment were performed using the minimally-invasive technique with the metal-backed and the all-polyethylene versions of the Repicci sledge prosthesis. Electromyography (EMG) of standardized locations was measured with the MyoSystem 2000 and analyzed with Myoresearch software. Gait analysis was performed with a six-camera motion analysis system and force platforms. Established clinical and quality of life (SF-36) scores were used to compare patients with 11 healthy age-matched individuals. The Repicci sledge prosthesis led postoperatively to functional results that were in the range of healthy joints, and superior to sledge prostheses of a different design. Gait and balance parameters were comparable to the control group, whilst electromyographically lower amplitudes were found in the patients than the controls and in the operated legs as compared to the non-operated legs. Many parameters of quality of life and activity were comparable to age-matched healthy individuals, and quality of life was superior to total knee replacement. When implanted using a minimally-invasive technique and with suitable patient selection, the Repicci sledge led to functional results comparable to those of healthy joints and gait parameters comparable to those of healthy individuals. The level of evidence is Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Ras proteins play a significant role in signal transduction in response to growth factors and in cell transformation. To be active, ras has to be translocated to the cell membrane. Since subcellular distribution has been mainly studied in vector-transformed cells which highly express ras proteins, and it has been difficult to detect ras in cells expressing the protein at physiological levels, we studied subcellular distribution in human and murine fibroblasts. Here we show for the first time that a significant amount of ras is associated with the membrane skeleton and the cytoskeleton.