Hypothesis 3

Torsion and shearing action on the metacarpal/phalangeal   joint, resulting in damage to the growth plates

1. Obstetrical chains and a Frank's calf jack were used in the delivery of this bull calf. Due to the direction in which the chains and jack were pulled (proximally to distally), considerable force and trauma were sustained by the metacarpal /phalangeal   joint. This force could have separated and/or malaligned  the associated long bones from their respective growth plates. This would have resulted in damage to the hyaline  cartilage, due to the torsion and shearing forces.
2. Additionally , inappropriate fixation techniques involving a tight bandage may have exacerbated the malalignment of the bones with their growth plates. Also, the compressive bandaging probably contributed to the skin wounds and to potentially decreased joint lymphatic drainage.
3. The combination of growth plate damage and poor fixation resulted in abnormal healing/alignment  and growth.