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) 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.

Experience:

July 97 – present:
EMG Laboratory-Drasko Simovic, M.D., AANEM Accredited EMG Laboratory with Exemplary Status,
Medical Director.

July 97 – present:
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Tufts University, Boston, MA,
Clinical Research Associate.

July 96 – June 97:
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA,
Senior Clinical and Research Fellow in Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

July 95 – June 96:
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA,
Clinical and Research Fellow in Clinical Neurophysiology.

July 96 – June 97:
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA,
Senior Clinical and Research Fellow in Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

July 95 – June 96:
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA, Clinical and Research Fellow in Clinical Neurophysiology.

July 94 – June 95:
Boston University Affiliated Hospitals Residency Program in Neurology, Boston, MA,
Chief Resident.

July 92 – June 94:
Boston University Affiliated Hospitals Residency Program in Neurology, Boston, MA,
Junior and Senior Resident.

July 91 – June 92:
Cabrini Medical Center, New York Medical College, New York, NY, Intern in Medicine.

Jan. 90 – June 91:
University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia,
Post – Doctoral Fellow.

Jan. 89 – Dec. 89:
General Hospital “Dr. Dragisa Misovic”, University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia,
Resident in Medicine.

Academic Appointments:

Jan. 00 – present:
Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, Assistant Professor of Neurology.

Jan. 98 – Dec. 99:
Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, Instructor in Neurology.

July 92 – June 95:
Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, Teaching Fellow in Neurology.

Board
Certifications:

Neurology – American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Electrodiagnostic Medicine – American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Clinical Neurophysiology – American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Disability Evaluation– American Board of Disability Analysts

Professional Memberships:

American Academy of Neurology

Massachusetts Neurologic Association

American Association of
Electrodiagnostic Medicine

The Neuropathy Association
Boston Society of Neurology and Psychiatry

Media:

Scientific achievements featured in:
Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Popular Science, Reuters Health, Eagle Tribune, Cape Cod Times

Appointments:

Editorial Advisory Board, Therapy Journal, London , UK

Ad Hoc Reviewer, Annals of Neurology Journal, USA

Editorial Advisory Board, Clinical Practice Journal, London , UK

Awards:

Patients’ Choice

Most Compassionate Doctor

Boston Super Doctors

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Distinguished Physician

Bibliography and Research:

  1. Weinberg DH, Simovic D : The terminal latency index in the carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle and Nerve, 1996; 19: 1199; Presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting, American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Minneapolis, MN; October 1996

  2. Gorson CK, Allam G, Simovic D, Ropper AH: Improvement following Interferon alpha 2A in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; Neurology, 1997; 48(3):777-780 
    More info »

  3. Simovic D, Gorson CK, Ropper AH: Polyneuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS): comparison of IgM-MGUS and IgG-MGUS; Neurology, 1997; 48(3): A 52; Presented at the 49th Annual Meeting, American Academy of Neurology, Boston, MA; April 1997

  4. Gorson CK, Ropper AH, Simovic D, Allam G: Treatment of CIDP with Interferon alpha: A prospective open trial; Neurology, 1997; 48(3): A 87; Presented at the 49th Annual Meeting, American Academy of Neurology, Boston, MA; April 1997

  5. Acar D, Simovic D, Weinberg DH, Ropper AH: Mononeuritis multiplex mimicking acute demyelinating polyneuropathy; Presented at the Annual Stanley Cobb Assembly – Boston Society of Neurology and Psychiatry Meeting, Boston; April 1997
  1. Simovic D, Weinberg DH: Terminal latency index in the carpal tunnel syndrome; Muscle and Nerve, 1997; 20: 1178-1180 
    More info »

  2. Gorson CK, Ropper AH, Clark BD, Dew RB, Simovic D, Allam G: Treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with Interferon Alpha 2a; Neurology, 1998; 50: 84-87 
    More info »

  3. Simovic D, Gorson CK, Ropper AH: Comparison of IgM-MGUS and IgG-MGUS polyneuropathy; Acta Neurologica Scandinavica,1998; 97: 194-200 
    More info »

  4. Simovic D, Weinberg DH, Allam G, Hayes MT: A quantitative clinical scale for the carpal tunnel syndrome; Neurology, 1998; 50 (4): A302; Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting, American Academy of Neurology, Minneapolis, MN; April 1998

  5. Weinberg DH, Simovic D, Isner JM: Chronic ischemic monomelic neuropathy; Neurology, 1998;  50 (4):A207-208; Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting, American Academy of Neurology, Minneapolis, MN; April 1998
  1. Weinberg DH, Simovic D: Prospective study of the median nerve terminal latency index in carpal tunnel syndrome; Muscle and Nerve, 1998; 21 (11):1582; Presented at  the 45th Annual Meeting, American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Orlando, FL; September 1998

  2. Schratzberg P, Simovic D, Weinberg DH: Chronic ischemic neuropathy in peripheral arterial occlusive disease; Circulation, 1998; 98 (17) Supplement: I 268; Presented at the 71st Scientific Session, American Heart Association, Dallas, TX; November 1998

  3. Simovic D, Weinberg DH: The median nerve terminal latency index in diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a clinically based case selection study; Muscle and Nerve, 1999; 22:573-577 
    More info »

  4. Simovic D, Ropper AH, Weinberg DH: Improvement in ischemic limb neuropathy after vascular endothelial growth factor gene therapy; Annals of Neurology, 1999; 46 (3): 463; Presented at the 124 th Annual Meeting, American Neurological Association; Seattle, WA; October 1999

  5. Simovic D, Ropper AH, Isner JM, Weinberg DH: Improvement in ischemic limb neuropathy after VEGF gene transfer; Circulation, 1999; Supplement I, 100 (18): I-770; Presented at the 72nd Scientific Session, American Heart Association; Atlanta, GA; November 1999
  1. Simovic D, Weinberg DH: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Archives of Neurology, 2000; 57:754-755
    More info »

  2. Simovic D, Isner JM, Ropper AH, Pieczek A, Weinberg DH: Improvement in chronic ischemic neuropathy following intramuscular phVEGF165 gene transfer in patients with critical limb ischemia; Archives of Neurology, 2001; 58 (5):761-768 
    More info »

  3. Weinberg DH, Simovic D, Isner JM, Ropper AH: Chronic ischemic monomelic neuropathy from critical limb ischemia; Neurology, 2001; 57(6): 1008-1012 
    More info »

  4. Simovic D: Autoimmune neuropathies and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins; Therapy, 2005, 2 (5),797-805 
    More info »

  5. Ropper AH, Gorson CK, Gooch CL, Weinberg DH, Pieczek A, Ware JH, Kershen J, Simovic D, Schratzberger P, Kirchmair R, Losordo D: VEGF Gene Transfer for Diabetic Polyneuropathy: A Randomized Double Blinded Trial; Ann Neurol. 2009 Apr;65(4):386-93
    More info »

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
CONTACT US
LOCATIONS

Copyright: EMG Laboratory, LLC

Illustration Attributions
LAWRENCE:
EMG LABORATORY
25 MARSTON STREET #208
LAWRENCE, MA 01841
TEL: 978-687-2586
FAX: 978-687-8268
HYANNIS:
EMG LABORATORY
51 MAIN STREET #6
HYANNIS, MA 02601
TEL: 508-775-2600
FAX: 508-775-1437

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.