Hypothesis 3-Fracture accompanied by ligament injury

The flexor tendons may have also been injured along with the fractured metacarpus in the process of chaining and pulling the calf.  The calf is described as having raised toes and tight bands of tissue on the dorsum of the foot (extensor ligaments).  This would lead to decreased tension on the extensor tendons and contracture.  Since the calf is non-weightbearing (4/4), this problem is not evident on visual examination.   The valgus deformity is the more severe problem.  There may have been injury to the collateral ligaments and joint capsule of the fetlock causing the valgus deformity.  As the patient ambulated the laxity in the growing joint allowed for uneven distribution of forces on physis creating increased growth on the medial aspect/decreased growth on the lateral aspect.  This coupled with the instability of the fracture led to an obvious valgus deformity of the limb.