Injectable Liquid Buccal Mucosa for Urethral Reconstruction: Evidence from Preclinical and Early Clinical Studies

Buccal mucosa grafting remains the gold standard for substitution urethroplasty; however, open reconstruction is invasive and technically demanding. Injectable liquid buccal mucosa technologies have emerged as minimally invasive strategies aimed at restoring epithelial integrity following endoscopic stricture treatment. These approaches include mechanically processed buccal micrografts, cultured autologous epithelial cell suspensions, and scaffold-based tissue-engineered materials. Preclinical animal studies have demonstrated successful engraftment and improved urethral healing with the application of liquid buccal mucosa following urethrotomy. Early clinical investigations of liquid buccal grafting report improvements in urinary flow with acceptable safety profiles. While these technologies remain investigational, injectable buccal mucosa represents a promising technology that may expand endoscopic management of urethral stricture disease. PATIENT SUMMARY: This review looks at new ways to treat narrowing of the urethra by using tissue from the inside of the mouth. The tissue is processed and then injected into the urethra after the narrowed area has been opened using a small camera.