Two Echidnae Podcast from Advancing Wound Care

Inspired by a quote from Dr Brad Robinson, Monika and Donna share real cases where palpating and probing wounds revealed what photos, reports and even specialist reviews had missed, from exposed bone behind a tiny hole to undiagnosed osteomyelitis. They cover pressure injuries, foot wounds, oedema and lymphoedema assessment, tissue texture, boggy heels, friable tissue, and practical ways to build the confidence to probe gently and safely. A must listen for nurses, OTs, physios and podiatrists who want to sharpen their hands on assessment skills. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:40 The quote that inspired this episode 04:55 What photos miss that fingers find 07:10 Teaching OTs and physios to palpate 07:55 A sneaky stage four 08:40 How shear and position change what you feel 09:20 When photos replace proper assessment 10:35 Size does not matter 11:35 Getting comfortable with probing 12:00 Undermining measurements that differed by centimetres 13:40 Wounds hide n seek 14:15 Palpating skin 18:10 Toe to groin palpation 19:30 Striking lymph node gold 20:15 Palpating pathology 21:30 Touch v AI 22:20 Assessing mixed aetiology through touch 25:05 Turning probe findings into precise care plans 27:20 Get to know your friendly podiatrist 28:10 Education by relationship building 29:15 A reflection on probing 33:40 Consistent positioning for consistent measurement 37:00 Wrap up and where to follow the podcast Resources mentioned: Dr Brad Robinson quote https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXiMTnYj8Is/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Endnotes If you enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe, leave a comment or share with your colleagues. The Two Echidnae Podcast is part of Advancing Wound Care, our online education platform for clinicians. Reach out to us on our other Advancing Wound Care Socials, where you’ll also find hints, tips and resources. For more value, connect with us at: Website https://www.advancingwoundcare.com.au to join our newsletter mailing list to be the first to hear about online education opportunities Email [email protected] TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@twoechidnae Instagram https://www.instagram.com/advancingwoundcare Facebook https://www.facebook.com/advancingwoundcare YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TwoEchidnae Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/two-echidnae-wound-care-podcast-with-monika-and-donna/id1773976095 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7EpR6vaSM6jPSRaPMvLVZS The views expressed in this podcast are our own and is intended specifically for healthcare professionals. Always follow your organisation's policies and procedures or refer to your healthcare provider for individual wound advice.

In this enlightening episode, the hosts engage in a rigorous exploration of the intricate interplay between lymphoedema and wound care management. They articulate the crucial role that an understanding of lymphatic health plays in the healing processes of various wounds, particularly in patients presenting with chronic conditions. The dialogue transitions fluidly through their personal clinical experiences, emphasising the need for clinicians to adopt a holistic view of patient care - wherein the assessment and management of swelling take precedence over the mere treatment of visible wounds. The hosts advocate for a paradigm shift in clinical practice, suggesting that clinicians should first interrogate the causes of swelling before attending to the wounds themselves. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Wound consultancy though the eyes of an accredited lymphoedema practitioner 01:55 Swelling the inflammatory soup 02:50 Wounds, lower priority than managing chronic oedema 03:30 The acetic acid, chronic oedema/lymphoedema and pseudomonas conundrum 06:40 Unwounding yourself 09:24 Exudate v lymphorrhoea 10:15 Understanding the overlap of wounds and lymphoedema 12:09 The importance of understanding lymphoedema management in wound management 13:21 Moving the big paradigm ship around (link to Wounds Australia, Australasian Lymphology Association, Beat the Swell, Australasian College of Phlebology, Roelene Faihst, Matt Cash) 17:12 Howler to industry. Is it lymphorrhoea? 19:20 Marketing dressings for lymphorrhoea handling, not just exudate 19:47 When the lymphatics are excluded in wound research 22:14 Why aren’t wound clinicians attending phlebology conferences? 23:58 The emotional lability of wound consultants who understand lymphoedema 31:01 Shout out Matt Cash from Lily Clinic 32:20 More clinicians are talking about lymphoedema 32:42 Don’t forget to refer on to a lymphoedema practitioner 34:00 Call to action for managers to support accredited lymphoedema education Resources mentioned: Matt Cash – Lily Clinic, Virginia Lily Clinic - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LilyClinicforlymph Roelene Faihst – Durbanville MediClinic, Cape Town https://www.instagram.com/lymph_draining_plus/ Australasian Lymphology Association https://www.lymphoedema.org.au/education-&-resources/lymphoedema-training-courses/ Beat The Swell https://www.beat-the-swell.org/ Wound Australia https://woundsaustralia.org/ Therapeutic wound and skin cleansing: Clinical evidence and recommendations https://woundsinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IWII_2025_Wound-cleansing-web-3.pdf The Australasian College of Phlebology https://www.phlebology.com.au/ Australasian Lymphology Association socials https://www.facebook.com/ALAlymphoedema# Endnotes If you enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe, leave a comment or share with your colleagues. The Two Echidnae Podcast is part of Advancing Wound Care, our online education platform for clinicians. Reach out to us on our other Advancing Wound Care Socials, where you’ll also find hints, tips and resources. For more value, connect with us at: Web https://www.advancingwoundcare.com.au to join our newsletter mailing list to be the first to hear about online education opportunities Email [email protected] TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify The views expressed in this podcast are our own and is intended specifically for healthcare professionals. Always follow your organisation's policies and procedures or refer to your healthcare provider for individual wound advice.

This episode critically examines the use of foam, combine, crepe and skin closure strips in wound management, addressing their potential misapplications and the resultant complications that may arise from such practices. Our discussion encompasses the phenomenon of “foam fights” among clinicians, reflecting the confusion stemming from the myriad of products available, which often appear deceptively similar yet serve varying purposes. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:51 WTFoam and the C word 01:47 Foam fights and confusion 04:24 Financial and clinical governance confusion 06:59 Are foams a panacea? 11:36 Foam fantasy 12:05 C words 15:34 Crepe alternatives 16:38 Combine maybe but then there’s that green dressing? 18:40 What ifs, clinical governance and risk reporting. 22:24 Enter and exit stage left – skin closure strips 25:35 Challenges and enablers of reporting harm 28:57 Summary Don’ts and Dos Resources mentioned: Edwards–Jones V, Idensohn T, Westgate S et al (2025) Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloridecoated wound dressings: An evidence review and position document. Wounds International. https://woundsinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ESS25_PD_DACC_WINT-web-v2.pdf Nokaneng E et al. Best practice recommendations for the prevention and management of skin tears in aged skin. Wounds International 2025. (p26). Available to download from www. woundsinternational.com https://woundsinternational.com/consensus-documents/best-practice-recommendations-for-the-prevention-and-management-of-skin-tears-in-aged-skin-2nd-edition/ Endnotes If you enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe, leave a comment or share with your colleagues. The Two Echidnae Podcast is part of Advancing Wound Care, our online education platform for clinicians. Reach out to us on our other Advancing Wound Care Socials, where you’ll also find hints, tips and resources. For more value, connect with us at: Web https://www.advancingwoundcare.com.au to join our newsletter mailing list to be the first to hear about online education opportunities Email [email protected] TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify The views expressed in this podcast are our own and is intended specifically for healthcare professionals. Always follow your organisation's policies and procedures or refer to your healthcare provider for individual wound advice.

This episode delves into the essential components that constitute effective referrals to wound consultants. Monika and Donna, advanced practice wound consultants and accredited lymphoedema practitioners, articulate the critical nature of comprehensive and precise information in wound referrals, emphasising that inadequate details can significantly impede the healing process. They explore the myriad factors influencing wound care while also lamenting the frequent absence of this vital data in referrals. The conversation serves as a clarion call for clinicians to prioritise clarity and completeness in their referrals, thereby ensuring a more streamlined and effective patient care journey. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Competing echidnas and fun facts 03:56 Ponderings on what makes a good referral 06:30 Negligible value of a wound management chart 07:04 High value high impact information on a referral 09:45 The dream of an accurate and up-to-date medical summary 12:16 High value of knowing who is or was on the team 13:59 Yes patient/client goals by why did you want me there in the first place? 16:04 The systemic barriers to the perfect referral in non-acute settings 19:10 What do the key clinician think that they can’t say out loud or document? 21:30 Never too early to refer 22:10 Initial appearance of wound and rate of deterioration as a reference point 23:50 Bare essentials on a referral 20:15 How not to send a wound photo 26:33 When the quality of the referral reflects the quality of care 29:40 What other medical specialists have consulted 32:16 Does the wound probe to bone? 34:00 Presence and extent of cognitive impairment? 35:22 Foot wounds then who is the podiatrist? 35:46 Diagnostics 38:19 The golden elements of a referral Endnotes If you enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe, leave a comment or share with your colleagues. The Two Echidnae Podcast is part of Advancing Wound Care, our online education platform for clinicians. Reach out to us on our other Advancing Wound Care Socials, where you’ll also find hints, tips and resources. For more value, connect with us at: Web https://www.advancingwoundcare.com.au to join our newsletter mailing list to be the first to hear about online education opportunities Email [email protected] TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify The views expressed in this podcast are our own and is intended specifically for healthcare professionals. Always follow your organisation's policies and procedures or refer to your healthcare provider for individual wound advice.

In episode 10 of the Two Echidnae podcast, we say hello to double figures and welcome in Advancing Wound Care. While we are still burrowing down into prickly conversations in wound and oedema management, we are launching our new logo, website and socials as we build out online education and resources to further equip clinicians with clarity and confidence. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:23 The Big News 02:40 The evolution of Advancing Wound Care 02:55 Advancing Wound Care filling the gaps in wound education 03:51 Hop on hop off 04:44 Click on the Advancing Wound Care website for updates and don’t forget the au 05:56 The arrow, the face, the heart and the star 11:23 Advancing Advancing Wound Care 11:36 The socials 12:16 We get it 14:42 Being caught in the middle and not knowing what to do 17:14 Future episode topics 19:59 Recap of our collective experience in the context of real-world clinical practice. 22:43 Both Accredited Lymphoedema Practitioners as well 22:55 Addressing the gaps between wound and lymphoedema/chronic oedema management 26:54 Shout out to current and future followers and links to all the places we hang out Resources mentioned: Advancing Wound Care https://www.advancingwoundcare.com.au Australasian Lymphology Association https://www.lymphoedema.org.au/education-&-resources/lymphoedema-training-courses/ Endnotes If you enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe, leave a comment or share with your colleagues. The Two Echidnae Podcast is part of Advancing Wound Care, our online education platform for clinicians. Reach out to us on our other Advancing Wound Care Socials, where you’ll also find hints, tips and resources. For more value, connect with us at: Web https://www.advancingwoundcare.com.au to join our newsletter mailing list to be the first to hear about online education opportunities Email [email protected] TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify The views expressed in this podcast are our own and is intended specifically for healthcare professionals. Always follow your organisation's policies and procedures or refer to your healthcare provider for individual wound advice.