Introduction Scanning a patient involves pushing a heavy transducer and a heavy cord while simultaneously leaning over a patient, using the keyboard and viewing the screen. Even with good patient and machine position, a sonographer's upper limbs can be abducted up to 90º from the body that can place the body under stress. International statistics indicate that 80–95% of sonographers experience work‐related pain, 90% experience this pain for more than half their career and one in five sonographers sustain a career ending work‐related injury. Methods The sonographer safety initiative is a collaborative effort between sonographers, biomedical engineers in SA Health, Flinders Biomedical Enterprises and GE Healthcare; with the goal to investigate sonographer work‐place injuries. A 6‐month study was conducted that reviewed literature, compensation claims, injury reports, and surveyed sonographers and relevant stakeholders. Results Information regarding the social/cultural, physiological/environmental and technological issues in current practices was collected along with the causes and rates of sonographer injuries. Discussion Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant concern for sonographers with detrimental effects on the individual and the employer. Sonographers are reluctant to report or claim these injuries, which mask the problem and prevent it from getting the traction it requires.

Lymphoedema is a chronic progressive condition often producing significant morbidity. An in-depth understanding of an individual's lymphatic architecture is valuable both in the understanding of underlying pathology and for targeting and tailoring treatment. Severe lower limb injuries resulting in extensive loss of soft tissue require transposition of a flap consisting of muscle and/or soft tissue to close the defect. These patients are at risk of lymphoedema and little is known about lymphatic regeneration within the flap. Indocyanine green (ICG), a water-soluble dye, has proven useful for the imaging of lymphatic vessels. When injected into superficial tissues it binds to plasma proteins in lymph. By exposing the dye to specific wavelengths of light, ICG fluoresces with near-infrared light. Skin is relatively transparent to ICG fluorescence, enabling the visualization and characterization of superficial lymphatic vessels. An ICG fluorescence lymphatic vessel imager was manufactured to excite ICG and visualize real-time fluorescence as it travels through the lymphatic vessels. Animal studies showed successful ICG excitation and detection using this imager. Clinically, the imager has assisted researchers to visualize otherwise hidden superficial lymphatic pathways in patients postflap surgery. Preliminary results suggest superficial lymphatic vessels do not redevelop in muscle flaps.

The Indurometer is easier to use as compared to the Tonometer. Modification of the Indurometer needs to take place in order to improve its variability before it can be considered as a replacement for the Tonometer in the assessment of lymphedema. The lack of understanding of the ISL classification system is a significant issue.