Hypothesis 2 : Closed Fracture The clinical findings could be explained by a closed fracture due to improper use of obstetrical chains and the calf puller. Improper placement of the chains or excessive force from the calf puller could have caused the metacarpal bone to be fractured during the assisted dystocia. The heavy bandaging would not have benefited the fracture if bones were not lined up properly to allow healing and it would also not have allowed strong enough stabilization to allow the bones to have remained lined up. This would have explained why the limb was still healed after the initial two weeks. The bandage having been applied to tightly can explain the skin falling off. The cast did not heal the leg due to the length of time since the initial fracture. At the time the cast was applied, the fracture would already have begun trying to heal itself. The casts done nothing more than stabilize what was already occurring and did not correct the actual fracture. This would explain why the limb was crooked when the cast was taken off. The limb is still unstable due to the fact that the fracture has not healed and has not been properly stabilized during any of the previous treatments to allow healing. The raised toes are probably due to the limb being immobilized improperly. Excessive strain could have been placed on the extensor ligaments, which caused them to be in a contracted state for an extended period of time. This can also explain the limited range of motion in the metacarpal / phalnagel joint. The valgus deformity is probably due to the misalignment of the fracture site and is the calfŐs way of compensation of the force on that limb. The granulation tissue is due to the excessive pressure and rubbing of the bandage and cast. The draining tract is due to internal infection and pressures that is the result of the body trying to resolve the inflammation that is the result to the fracture. This would also explain the increased temperature, respiration, and heart rate.