Hypothesis 1-Delayed Union Fracture of metacarpus

When the calf was pulled the chain may not have been applied properly.  This could lead to a fracture of the metacarpus most likely at the physis.  The calf was bandaged but this did not provided enough stability, compression, and alignment to allow the fractured bone ends to fuse.  At two weeks the fracture was not stable and a half cast was applied for three more weeks.  As the fracture tried to heal the bone fragments were not stable, indicated by the crepitus, and therefore could not form normal granulation tissue, callus, calcification, and remodeling.  Bone production occurred but with the bones in abnormal alignment the leg developed an angular deformity.  Due to the animal's weight and lack of adequate reduction the fracture has failed to completely heal even after several months.  The chains applied at parturition and the swelling may have compromised the blood supply to the leg causing an increased cell differentiation to chondroblasts instead of osteoblasts.  This increases the instablility  at the fracture site.  There also appears to be hypertrophy of bone at the fracture ends which may be contributing to the swollen/enlarged appearance of the metacarpus.  This indicates slow healing.  The open sores are due to pressure necrosis from a tight and infrequently changed bandage on a growing limb.