Owner complaint: 
Injured left front leg
Swollen since birth

Signalment:
Male, 3 mo. Old Limousin bull

Present History:
Limb is crooked
Wounds are present that were there at cast removal
Not using limb

Past History:
Forced extraction necessary
Leg was injured during calf extraction with obstetrical chains
Heavy bandages were placed on the leg for one month
At 2 weeks of age, skin fell off
Half-limb cast was applied for 3 weeks
Leg is uniformly enlarged and crooked

PE:
T=103    P=120     R=60
Limb is swollen twice the size of the normal limb
2 granulating wounds on the limb
crepitance is heard with manipulation
area around the fracture is covered with pink epithelium
draining tract on dorsal medial side of leg
when limb is manipulated, purulent exudate comes out of wound
limb is turned outward (like a valgus deformity)
calf appears normal
crepitance and instability in the metacarpus
metacarpo-phalangeal joint has a limited ROM
tight bands of tissue are palpated that connect the raised toes with the tissue on the dorsum of the foot


	All of the above facts led us to believe that some sort of trauma occurred during calving to fracture the metacarpus and efforts to repair this fracture were unsuccessful.  The reasons for the failure of the attempts is unknown, and is what our group is trying to determine.