Polynucleotide (PN) Knee Injection in Singapore
A Non-Surgical Option for Knee Osteoarthritis
What is a Polynucleotide (PN) knee injection?
A polynucleotide (PN) knee injection is a medical procedure where a purified DNA polymer solution is injected directly into the knee joint (intra-articular injection).
It is used in patients with knee osteoarthritis to:
- Reduce mechanical friction between joint surfaces
- Provide cushioning inside the joint
- Support joint lubrication
- Improve knee function
- Reduce knee pain
PN injections are considered a type of viscoelastic joint therapy, similar in concept to hyaluronic acid injections.
What Is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition where cartilage gradually wears down, leading to:
- Pain during walking or climbing stairs
- Stiffness after rest
- Swelling
- Reduced mobility
- Grinding or clicking sensation
It commonly affects adults over 40 and may worsen with age, injury, or alignment issues.
How Does Polynucleotide Work in the Knee?
Polynucleotide is a long-chain DNA polymer derived from purified marine sources.
Inside the joint, it:
- Forms a viscoelastic gel matrix
- Creates cushioning between cartilage surfaces
- Reduces mechanical stress during movement
- Supports the joint environment
Unlike oral painkillers, the treatment works locally inside the knee joint.
Polynucleotide vs Hyaluronic Acid: What’s the Difference?
Both treatments are injected into the joint and aim to improve lubrication.
Key differences:
| Feature | Polynucleotide (PN) | Hyaluronic Acid (HA) |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular structure | DNA polymer | Glycosaminoglycan |
| Gel formation | 3D viscoelastic matrix | Lubricating gel |
| Clinical findings | Some studies show earlier symptom improvement | Widely used standard option |
Clinical research (randomized, double-blind trials) has shown:
- Both PN and HA significantly reduce knee pain
- PN demonstrated earlier improvement in certain outcome measures (e.g., KOOS symptoms at 2 weeks in one trial)
- Both treatments showed acceptable safety profiles
What Do Clinical Studies Show?
Randomized Controlled Trial (Italy, 2014)
- Compared PN vs HA in knee osteoarthritis
- Both reduced pain significantly
- PN showed earlier symptom improvement
- No significant serious adverse events reported
Confirmatory Clinical Study (Korea)
- Over 200 patients
- Significant improvement in VAS pain scores
- Functional score improvement
- Acceptable safety profile
(References available upon request.)
Who Is a Suitable Candidate for PN Knee Injection?
You may consider discussing PN injection if:
- You have mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis
- You want to avoid or delay surgery
- You want to reduce long-term oral painkiller use
- Previous hyaluronic acid injection response was limited
- Imaging confirms degenerative changes
Proper medical assessment is required before treatment.
Safety and Side Effects
Common temporary effects may include:
- Mild swelling
- Injection site discomfort
- Temporary stiffness
Serious complications are uncommon but possible with any intra-articular procedure.
Our Approach at The Pain Relief Clinic (Singapore)
At The Pain Relief Clinic, we emphasize:
- Accurate diagnosis
- Imaging clarity (X-ray or MRI when appropriate)
- Individualised treatment discussion
- Evidence-informed decision-making
We assess:
- Cartilage condition
- Alignment
- Meniscus status
- Ligament stability
- Inflammatory signs
We then discuss whether options such as:
- Physiotherapy
- Hyaluronic acid injection
- Polynucleotide injection
- Other non-invasive approaches
- Surgical referral
may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is polynucleotide injection the same as steroid injection?
No. Polynucleotide injection does not contain corticosteroids.
Is polynucleotide injection the same as PRP?
No. PRP (platelet-rich plasma) uses your own blood. Polynucleotide is a purified DNA polymer medical device.
How long does a polynucleotide knee injection last?
Clinical studies have evaluated improvements up to 6 months. Individual response varies.
How many injections are required?
Protocols vary. Some regimens involve multiple injections spaced weekly.
Is polynucleotide better than hyaluronic acid?
Both have shown effectiveness in clinical trials. Some studies suggest earlier symptom improvement with PN, but suitability depends on individual factors.
Is polynucleotide injection available in Singapore?
Availability depends on clinic offerings and regulatory status. A medical consultation is required to determine suitability.
What To Expect When I Visit The Pain Relief Clinic
A typical visit will involve our doctor first understanding your medical history, concerns and previous experience with other pain treatments.
For patients who have consulted many people but have yet to receive a clear diagnosis, selecting an affordable imaging scan might be recommended to confirm the cause of your pain..
Some patients have already done scans with other doctors for their pain condition but are still not clearly told what they suffer from.
Dr Terence Tan is happy to offer you a second opinion and recommend how best to manage your condition.
We also see patients who already have a confirmed diagnosis from specialist pain doctors, but are "stuck” because treatment options offered are not practical or acceptable.
We can help by discussing options that you might have potentially never been told of.
A common experience is when a patient has already consulted a specialist doctor for pain management and is told to consider orthopaedic surgery which they find too aggressive.
Or they may have seen doctors for their pain and were prescribed painkillers with potential side effects which made them feel uncomfortable.
Many of our patients have also first tried complementary treatments or acupuncture with traditional Chinese pain doctors.
They look for a second opinion after finding any relief experienced from other treatments to be temporary or requiring repetitive treatments, which add up to time and cost.
Especially in such situations, we emphasize using non-invasive medical technology you likely have not been told about .
This can make a big difference to your results.
Ask Dr Tan a Question about your problem
Find out how your pain can be more effectively treated.
For enquiries, Call +65 6732 2397
THE PAIN RELIEF CLINIC
You May Qualify For Cashless Scans & Treatments
We believe that access to medical services should be stress-free.
Singaporeans, permanent residents, and some international patients may be eligible for cashless services.
This can remove the need to pay cash upfront, solving a potential problem even for patients with insurance coverage.
You should be focused on getting answers and starting correct treatment, not worrying about large upfront bills.
To check your eligibility, send us a message.
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