Ohio

Drs. Brahms, Cohn & Leb Inc. have a rich heritage in orthopaedic care for the people of Northeast Ohio. The practice was started over 50 years ago when Dr. Malcolm Brahms joined Dr. Alvin Tramer's orthopaedic practice. Today, Dr. Bruce Cohn and Dr. Robert Leb carry on the tradition of providing quality orthopaedic healthcare to the residents of Northeast Ohio.

The highly-trained podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio in Mentor, Chardon, Westlake, and Geneva, Ohio, know that prompt diagnosis and early intervention can be crucial when it comes to dealing with foot and ankle problems.

With state-of-the-art facilities and access to the latest technology, this team of specialists has all of your foot and ankle needs covered, from ankle arthritis to diabetic foot care. You’ll never have to worry about booking an appointment with another specialist should your foot or ankle problem requires further treatment.

What sets Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio apart from other clinics is that the physicians are committed to educating their patients. Each expert at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio is dedicated to making sure you never leave a visit with unanswered questions or misinformation. In addition to being an established teaching institute with resident doctors, the practice also works with athletes at several local high schools to give back the community. To learn more about Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio, book an appointment online or over the phone today.

McConnell Spine, Sport & Joint Physicians is a physician practice dedicated to providing excellent, comprehensive non-surgical care of all musculoskeletal problems.

Any problem involving bones, joints or muscles - from a simple ankle sprain to chronic back pain (and everything in between) - can be managed by our expert team of medical professionals.

The Center offers a refreshing and unique approach as a one-stop destination for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions for patients of all ages.

Dr. Mark A. Foglietti (pronounced 'Fuhl-yetti) was born in Steubenville, Ohio and raised in Mingo Junction, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he received his Bachelors of Science Degree and completed one year of post-graduate work in microbiology and virology. He then went to Medical School at Ohio University, where he currently serves as a Clinical Professor in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine is nationally recognized as one of the top physician training programs in the country.

Dr. Foglietti returned to the Columbus area to fulfill a one-year rotating internship at Doctor's Hospital where he stayed to finish his training in general surgery. As a general surgery resident, he was accepted into the plastic surgery residency at The Plastic Surgery Institute of Des Moines Iowa, under the direction of the internationally acclaimed plastic surgeon Dr. James O. Stallings, M.D. During his time in Iowa, Dr. Foglietti served as a resident and as the Chief Resident of the program. To further enhance his plastic and reconstructive surgery knowledge, he completed an additional fellowship in cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery of the breast, in Cleveland Ohio under the direction of Dr. Melvyn I. Dinner and Dr. J. Sheldon Artz.

With 17 years of higher education, medical, and surgical training behind him, Dr. Foglietti started his career by joining Drs. Dinner and Artz at The Center for Plastic Surgery. He soon became board certified in both plastic and reconstructive surgery and in general surgery, later co-founding the Woodlands Center for Plastic Surgery, located in Sagamore Hills, Ohio.

Dr. Foglietti founded the Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Beachwood, Ohio in 2000. He established himself as an educator and leader in his field both locally and nationally. He is a member of The American Osteopathic Association, The American Medical Association, and their respective local organizations. He is a past president and board member of the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine and serves nationally on the Board of Governors for The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. As a Fellow of the A.C.O.S., he is also a past President of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Discipline and serves nationally as a board examiner. Dr. Foglietti was the Chief of staff and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center East. He is also the Director of the plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at the Cleveland Clinic Health System Hospital, Meridia Southpointe.

For over a decade, Dr. Foglietti has published numerous papers in a variety of internationally recognized medical and scientific journals. Keeping up to date on all of the latest surgical techniques, and newest technology, Dr. Foglietti has been given significant local and national television exposure, (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, and The Discovery Channel) for bringing new advancements to the Cleveland medical market. He has also been recognized for his advanced treatment of burn victims internationally and for his assistance in the treatment of the Afghanistan Freedom Fighters, for which he received an award from Washington D.C. in 1988.

Dr. Foglietti has been featured in Cleveland magazine, Northern Ohio Live, The Plain Dealer, The Canton Repository, as well as a number of other newspapers for his improvements in plastic and reconstructive surgery. As an inventor, Dr. Foglietti holds three U.S. Patents on improved breast implants for surgical use. He strives to remain on the cutting edge of medicine to serve his patients in the most up-to-date, personalized, and holistic manner possible.  Dr. Foglietti has also recently received a registered trademark for the Foglietti Natural Vector Facelift Technique from the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington DC in November 09.

Dr. Foglietti has been recognized for the treatment of the Haiti earthquake victims for a medical mission in February 2010. He has also completed medical missions to Columbia in pediatric burn surgery, 2013 and 2014. He is a recipient of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine's Distinguished Service Award. He is also national faculty for Allergan Corporation and considered one of the elite injectors in the United States. He is the co-founder of the Ohio Stem Cell Treatment Center of Cleveland, Ohio.
Stem Cell FAQs

Are any biological agents added to the stem cells such as medications or mixtures containing Plasma Enriched Platelets?
Our adipose derived stem cell harvesting and isolation technique yields extremely high numbers of stem cells. In reviewing outcomes data, treatment cell numbers appear to correlate with treatment success. Our cells are actually in a type of “soup” called Stromal Vascular Fraction SVF which is stem cells bathed in a rich mixture of natural growth factors (Not the same as human growth factor hormone which is only one type of growth factor). Some types of orthopedic and urologic diseases appear to respond better to stem cells that are super enriched with growth factors created by administering Platelet Rich Plasma to the patient. Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma is derived from a patient's own blood drawn at the time of deployment. At CSN we do not add any foreign substances or medications to the stem cells.

Are any patients automatically excluded?

Yes. Patients with uncontrolled cancer are excluded. If you have an active infection anywhere in your body you must be treated first. Severely ill patients may require special consideration. Also, anyone with a bleeding disorder or who takes blood-thinning medications requires special evaluation before consideration for stem cells.

Are there reports of autologous adipose-derived adult mesenchymal stem cells harming any humans or animals?

We know of no documented cases personally or in the literature where serious harm has resulted. All of our patients will be entered into a database to follow and report any adverse reactions. This information is vital to the development of stem cell science. There have been a few reports of serious complications from overseas and these are being thoroughly evaluated by epidemiologists to ascertain the facts. The International Stem Cell Society registry has over 1,000 cases currently registered and only 2% of the treatments were associated with any complications, none of which were considered “serious adverse events.”

Can extra stem cells be saved for future use should an immediate need arise?

Stem cells can be cryopreserved in the form of liposuction fat for prolonged periods of time. Currently, this service is outsourced to an outside provider known to have excellent quality control. Many patients have been inquiring about banking cells while they are still young since stem cell numbers drop naturally with each decade of life and some advocate obtaining and saving cells to be used later in life as needed.

Can I be expected to improve after stem cell treatment at CSN?

Different conditions are treated in different ways and there are different degrees of success. If the goal is regeneration of joint cartilage, one may not see expected results until several months after treatment. Some patients may not experience significant improvement and others may see dramatic regeneration of damaged tissue or resolution of disease. Many of the disorders and problems that the physicians at CSN are treating represent pioneering work and there is a lack of data. FDA regulations prevent CSN from making any claims about expectations for success, however, if you are chosen for treatment, it will be explained that we believe stem cell therapy may be beneficial or in some cases that we are unsure and treatment would be considered investigational.

Can stem cells cause cancer?

Adult mesenchymal stem cells are not known to cause cancer. Some patients have heard of stories of cancer caused by stem cells, but these are probably related to the use of embryonic cells (Not Adult Mesenchymal Cells). These embryonic tumors known as teratomas are rare but possible occurrences when embryonic cells are used.

Can stem cells treat cancer?

No. Many are confused by this because they have heard of cancer patients receiving “stem cell transplants.” These patients had ablative bone marrow therapy and need stem cells to re-populate their blood and marrow. This is different from the stem cells we deploy to treat noncancerous human diseases at CSN.

Does Ohio Stem Cell Treatment Center or CSN use any embryonic stem cells?

No. Only adult mesenchymal stem cells are used. These cells are capable of forming bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, ligaments, blood vessels, and certain organs. Embryonic stem cells are associated with ethical considerations and limitations.

Does Ohio Stem Cell Treatment Center use stem cells from any other animal source or person?

No. Only a person's own adult autologous cells are used. These are harvested from each individual and deployed back into their own body. There is no risk of contamination or risk of the introduction of mammalian DNA into the treatments.

How are the cells deployed into a patient?

Depending on the type of treatment required, stem cells can be injected through veins, arteries, into the spinal fluid, subcutaneously, or directly into joints or organs. All of these are considered minimally invasive methods of introducing stem cells. Stem cells injected intravenously are known to “seek out and find” (see photo) areas of tissue damage and migrate to that location thus potentially providing regenerative healing. Intravenously injected stem cells have been shown to have the capability of crossing the “blood-brain barrier” to enter the central nervous system and they can be identified in the patient's body many months after deployment. Note yellow arrow showing the stem cells concentrated in the patient's hand where he had a Dupuytren's contracture (Dupuytren's contracture is a hand deformity that causes the tissue beneath the surface of the hand to thicken and contract).

How do adult stem cells heal?

These adult stem cells are known as “progenitor” cells. This means they remain dormant (do nothing) unless they witness some level of tissue injury. It's the tissue injury that turns them on. So, when a person has a degenerative type problem, the stem cells tend to go to that area of need and stimulate the healing process. We're still not sure if they simply change into the type of injured tissue needed for repair or if they send out signals that induce the repair by some other mechanism. Suffice it to say that there are multiple animal models and a plethora of human evidence that indicates these are significant reparative cells.

How does CSN control sterility in the processing of the stem cells?

Stem cells are harvested under sterile conditions using a special “closed system” technology so that the cells never come into contact with the environment throughout the entire process from removal to deployment. Sterile technique and antibiotics are also used to prevent infection.

How is the fat obtained?

Ohio Stem Cell Treatment Center patients have their fat (usually abdominal) harvested in our special sterile treatment facility under a local anesthetic. The fat removal procedure lasts approximately twenty minutes. Specially designed equipment is used to harvest the fat cells and less than 100cc of fat is required. Postoperative discomfort is minimal and there is minimal restriction on activity.

How long does it take to see improvement?

Stem cell therapy relies on the body's own regenerative healing to occur. The regenerative process may take time, particularly with orthopedic patients, who may not see results for several months. In some diseases, more immediate responses are possible.

How many injections are required for success?

Most patients, especially those with orthopedic conditions, require only one deployment. Certain types of degenerative conditions, particularly auto-immune disease, may respond best to a series of stem cell deployments. The number and necessity of any additional treatments would be decided on a case by case basis. Financial consideration is given in these instances.

Is everyone a candidate?

No. Only certain medical problems are currently being treated at CSN. Check our list or fill out a candidate application form on the website. All patients need to be medically stable enough to have the treatment in our facility. There may be some exceptional conditions that may eventually be treated in hospitalized patients, but that remains for the future. Some patients may be declined due to the severity of their problem. Other patients may not have conditions appropriate to treat or may not be covered by our specialists or our protocols. A waiting list or outside referral (if we know of someone else treating such a problem) might be applicable in such cases.

Is our procedure FDA-approved?

NO. However, the Cell Surgical Network's procedures fall under the category of physician's practice of medicine, wherein the physician and patient are free to consider their chosen course of treatment. The FDA does have guidelines about treatment and manipulation of a patient's own tissues. At CSN we meet these guidelines by providing same-day treatment with the patient's own cells that undergo very minimal manipulation and are inserted during the same procedure.

Once a candidate is selected for treatment, how does Ohio Stem Cell Treatment Center obtain a person's stem cells?

Stem cells are harvested and deployed during the same procedure. Our patients undergo a minimally-invasive liposuction type of harvesting procedure by a Board Certified cosmetic surgeon in our specialized treatment facility in a Treatment Center closest to you. The harvesting procedure generally lasts a few minutes and can be done under local anesthesia. Cells are then processed and are ready for deployment within 90 minutes or less.

Some stem cell treatment centers make extraordinary claims about their success in the treatment of various problems. Why doesn't CSN?

CSN is doing pioneer research and treatment of many diseases. All investigational data is being collected so that results will be published in peer review literature and ultimately used to promote the advancement of cellular-based regenerative medicine. FDA regulations mandate that no advertising medical claims be made and that even website testimonials are prohibited.

What about patients with known cancers?

Stem cell therapy is thought to be safe and not affect dormant cancers. If someone has had cancer that was treated and responded successfully, there is no reason to withhold stem cell deployment. In most cases, stem cells should not be used in patients with known active cancer.

We are the Regional Leader in Comprehensive Orthopedics.

At Orthopedic Associates of SW Ohio, we deliver expert care for the full spectrum of orthopedic conditions. Our orthopedic surgeons are widely recognized as the regional leaders in comprehensive orthopedic care, including the treatment of diseases, injuries, and conditions of the bones and joints. Since 1985, patients have placed their trust in our specialized care of the hand and upper extremities, spine (back and neck), elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and foot and ankle. Our expert care also includes sports medicine and reconstructive surgery resulting from trauma.