About EMG Laboratory

EMG Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility for electrodiagnostic medicine, was awarded the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine’s highest level of recognition, Accreditation with Exemplary Status. EMG Laboratory achieved AANEM’s peer-reviewed accreditation for high-quality performance, integrity and patient care, exceeding a rigorous set of measures of excellence. 

EMG Laboratory has provided advanced testing of nerves and muscles to communities in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire since 1997. EMG Laboratory was in the group of the first 17 EMG Laboratories nationwide to achieve the AANEM’s accreditation. 

EMG Laboratory provides the highest levels of patient care and diagnostic support for referring physicians. It is a multi-lingual environment that specializes in sophisticated electromyography and nerve conduction testing that provides information about a range of nerves and muscles disorders. The highly detailed information and meticulous analysis that follows are critical to understanding the complete neuromuscular condition, which assists physicians in selecting an effective treatment plan. 

Electrodiagnostic medicine helps diagnose conditions with symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness from problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy, pinched nerves, and low back and neck pain to complex diseases such as muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Dr. Simovic's Biography

Drasko Simovic, M.D. is a graduate of the University of Belgrade Medical School in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He completed his internship at the Cabrini Medical Center, New York Medical College in New York, NY.

He graduated from the Boston University Affiliated Residency Program in Neurology in Boston, MA, and completed two fellowships at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University in Boston, MA. He is Board Certified in Neurology (ABPN), Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM), Clinical Neurophysiology (ABPN-CN), Neuromuscular Ultrasound (ABEM-CAQ) and Disability Analysis (ABDA).

He holds the academic appointment of Assistant Professor of Neurology at Tufts University, School of Medicine. His clinical and research interest includes ischemic and demyelinating polyneuropathies, electrodiagnostic evaluation of mononeuropathies, and gene therapy for neurological disorders.

Education:

University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, M.D., Dec.88.

Bibliography and Research:

Research Projects:

  • A prospective neurological and electrodiagnostic study of patients undergoing gene therapy for critical peripheral vascular disease

 

  • Clinical and neurophysiological evaluation of patients undergoing revascularization of the lower extremities: A prospective study

 

  • Repetitive stimulation test of the phrenic nerve using a diaphragmatic wire recording electrode: A new diagnostic technique

 

  • Development of an animal model for the ischemic monomelic polyneuropathy and evaluation of the effect of VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) on peripheral nerve regeneration in laboratory animals

 

  • A prospective clinical and neurophysiological evaluation of patients with ischemic polyneuropathy

Medical illustrations on this website are attributed to: Freepik.com and author Kjpargeter

Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve

From: www.wheelessonline.com 

– Anatomy:    

– LFCN, as its name suggests, is purely sensory;    
– it arises from L2 and L3, travels downward lateral to the psoas muscle, crosses the iliacus muscle (deep to fascia), passes either thru or underneath the lateral aspect of the inguinal ligament, and finally travels onto innervate the lateral thigh;
– it divides into anterior and posterior branches and supplies skin on lateral aspect of thigh;
– in the study by Hospodar et al (JTO 1999), the course of the nerve was variable, but was most commonly found at 10-15 mm from the ASIS and as far medially as 46 mm from the ASIS;
– in no specimen did the nerve pass lateral to the ASIS (eventhough historically the nerve is thought to pass lateral to the ASIS in 10% of population);
– in all specimens the nerve passed underneath the ilioginal ligament and anterior to the iliacus muscle; 

– Meralgia Paresthetica: 

– entrapment syndrome of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve causing burning, numbness, and paresthesias down the proximal-lateral aspect of the thigh;
– may be idiopathic, be a result of trauma, previous operations, and in some cases may arise from Perthes Disease abduction splints;
– in idiopathic cases, the nerve may be encased in bone by the growing apophysis of the anterior superior iliac spine, or may be entrapped in fascia either proximal or distal to the ASIS;    
– diagnosis is made by:           
– reproduction of the pain by deep palpation just below the anterior superior iliac spine and by hip extension;           
– relief of pain by localized injection of lidocaine;    
– treatment: when diagnosis is not in doubt and the symptoms are severe, consider operative decompression at the site of constriction;

EMG and NCS

Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) are tests that measure the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. Nerves send out electrical signals to make your muscles react in certain ways. Nerves also send signals from your skin to your brain, which then processes the signals, so you can experience a variety of skin sensations.

  • An EMG Test looks at the electrical signals your muscles make when they are at rest and when they are being used.
  • A Nerve Conduction Study measures how fast and how well the body’s electrical signals travel along your nerves. EMG and nerve conduction studies are used to help diagnose a variety of muscle and nerve disorders and to quantify the severity of your condition.


An EMG test helps find out if muscles are responding the right way to nerve signals. Nerve conduction studies help diagnose nerve damage or disease. When EMG tests and nerve conduction studies are done together, they help doctors tell if your symptoms are caused by a muscle disorder or a nerve problem. With EMG and NCS studies, your doctor can next select the best therapeutic option to help you.