Brian Plaster is a 40-year-old Las Vegas native who has always lived an active lifestyle. He enjoyed long-distance cross-country races along with recreational biking and snowboarding. That all changed after a serious snowboarding accident left him with a major knee injury.
“A year and a half ago I was snowboarding and I crashed into a tree,” Plaster said. “It was one of the worst snowboarding accidents I could ever imagine. I remember crashing into the tree and my knee was essentially flopping below my leg.”
Following the accident, Plaster feared that surgery would be necessary and that his active lifestyle might never be the same again.
“I wasn’t sure if I would run again, bike again. I wasn’t sure what I’d be able to do.”
While researching alternatives to surgery, Plaster discovered CELLAXYS and scheduled a consultation to explore less invasive treatment options.
Brian had suffered a high-grade sprain of the MCL, or medial collateral ligament, which plays a critical role in knee stability. As a long-distance runner, the injury severely limited his ability to train and compete.
Determined to avoid surgery if possible, Plaster sought treatment that would allow him to continue running, stay active with his family, and pursue a personal goal of completing a 40-mile off-road race for his 40th birthday.
After evaluation and screening, the Cellaxys team recommended adipose-derived stem cell therapy instead of bone marrow aspirate concentration.
Adipose-derived stem cells contain a high concentration of mesenchymal stem cells and have shown potential in supporting tendon and ligament healing, making them a strong option for Brian’s injury.
The treatment proved successful. After suffering the injury in March, Brian was able to begin running again by September.
Within three months, he no longer needed a brace and was able to return to running, hiking trails, and performing daily activities without significant pain. Follow-up imaging later showed major improvement in the injured ligament, with minimal swelling remaining and resolution of the tear.
For tendon and ligament injuries, stem cell therapy may help reduce the need for surgical intervention while supporting recovery and mobility.
Plaster has been extremely pleased with the results and continues to maintain the active lifestyle he enjoyed before the injury.
“The injury got me a little more focused on these athletic activities and [3 months] after the procedure I was able to do a 40-mile race on my 40th birthday,” Plaster said. “Running 40 miles on my 40th birthday after destroying my knee prior to that is just a huge blessing for me.”
