Learning Issues:

1. How exactly are obstetrical chains used/ Where are they placed to pull out a calf?

Obstetrical chains are placed wherever purchase can be found on the front legs of the calf.  This is usually above the fetlock and below the dew claw - this would tend to put a lot of pressure on the metacarpal bone, which is where this lesion appears to be located.

2.  What is a Frank's calf jack?

The calf jack is like a car jack that presses against the cows hind end (pressing against her in order to get the calf out).  There's great potential for damage to the calf because the calf jack exerts great force on the calf and you're unable to adjust the pressure according to resistance from the calf.  

3.  What exactly are the tight bands of tissue palpated that connect the raised toes with the tissue on the dorsum of the foot?

We decided that these were the extensor tendons which had undergone contracture.  This would have occurred secondary to tearing of the flexor tendons due to the trauma - without the balancing force these tendons provide to the extensor tendons, the extensor tendons would contract.

4.  What does raised toe mean?  And Where is it?

After asking Dr. Shires, we're able to imagine that if the leg were held straight rather than with the joint in flexion, the toe would be pointing up (and laterally, which we can appreciate from the photo)