Hypothesis 3 Trauma Ð infectious Consider puncture wound causing infection in fetlock joint. Also consider septic growth plate, or local manifestation of systemic infection. Pitting edema may be due to an increase in vascular leakage due to damage caused by excessive inflammatory products (possibly due to endotoxin)Ñthis indicates high severity of inflammation. No evidence of puncture wound, but could have healed such that external wound inapparent, but infection still present in joint. Consider joint tap to look for infectious agent.