Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness of Clinicians Regarding Polynucleotide Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Survey-Based Evaluation

Aims: Intra-articular (IA) injection therapy, particularly IA hyaluronic acid (HA), is a common treatment for knee osteoarthritis, but it does have limitations. The injection of IA polynucleotide (PN) has emerged as an alternative, potentially offering superior clinical outcomes. This study investigates current practice patterns and the perceived effectiveness of PN among clinicians for treating knee osteoarthritis in the Republic of Korea. Methods: Based on a survey conducted among clinicians who use PN in clinical practice, we explored the current practices and assessed the perceived effectiveness of IA PN in treating knee osteoarthritis. Results: A total of 265 clinicians who used IA PN for knee osteoarthritis participated in the survey. Most clinicians (73.3%) used PN therapy for the treatment of chronic pain, with varying administration frequencies. In addition, 25.8% of clinicians used PN for the treatment of acute flare-ups. In cases of knee effusion, 55.5% of clinicians removed the effusion prior to administering PN. Clinicians rated PN as more effective than HA for both chronic pain and acute flare-ups, with higher scores for cushioning, anti-inflammatory effects, and delaying joint degeneration. The clinicians stated that patients expressed a higher satisfaction with IA PN compared with IA HA, noting improvement in joint smoothness, noise reduction, pain relief, and a reduction in heat sensation and swelling. Conclusions: The results of the present study highlight the extensive use and perceived benefits among clinicians of IA PN for knee osteoarthritis in the Republic of Korea. Further research is warranted to explore the effectiveness of PN in acute flare-ups and to validate these findings in broader populations.