On 14 March 2001, an 8 mo old, male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was found in lateral recumbency exhibiting neurologic signs including inability to rise, opisthotonus, paddling, and respiratory distress. There was evidence of minor cranial trauma. Postmortem examination revealed atlantoaxial instability with ventral deviation of the axis due to malformation of the caudal atlas and cranial axis. Given the age of the fawn, the instability was assumed to be congenital with minor trauma inducing severe, acute neurologic signs.

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				C. M. Faux and K. Padian The opisthotonic posture of vertebrate skeletons: postmortem contraction or death throes? Paleobiology, March 1, 2007; 33(2): 201 - 226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]