Serge Mrkobrada

My research interest lies in electromyography, peripheral nervous system disorders and ultrasound imaging techniques. The goal of my research is to understand the correlation of ultrasound imaging techniques (including backscatter analysis, elastography and direct measurements muscles and nerves) and electromyography findings to help facilitate diagnosis of peripheral nervous system disorders and measure treatment response. I am also interested in utilizing ultrasound to improve the accuracy and safety of the needle EMG exam.

Neuromuscular ultrasound is a fast and safe imaging technique that is used to assess the underlying pathology of muscles and nerves. The advantage of ultrasound is that it is very safe and can be performed quickly in the outpatient setting. In the electrodiagnostic clinic, ultrasound can be a very useful addition to clinical exam and electrodiagnostic investigations. Ultrasound techniques such as backscatter analysis can detect changes of muscle denervation and can be helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis as well quantifying progression of disease states over time. Currently, I have a CHREB ethics approval for a project titled “Ultrasound analysis of cervical, thoracic and lumbar paraspinal muscles for needle EMG localization” which was designed to improve the accuracy and safety of the needle EMG paraspinal exam. In the future, I plan on employing ultrasound backscatter analysis in mononeuropathies, radiculopathies and polyneuropathies. For example, backscatter analysis of the APB muscle may be used to grade the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome. By establishing the normal and abnormal findings across different clinical syndromes, ultrasound can be used to aid in diagnosis as well as measure treatment response. Ultrasound backscatter analysis can also be employed in the paediatric as well as adult neuromuscular disease populations including myopathies, motor neuron disease, polyneuropathies and others.