Ankylosing spondylitis associated with temporomandibular joint ankylosis: report of a case

Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease process that causes inflammatory changes of the involved joints. Often the first clinical indication of the condition is lumbosacral pain and discomfort with limited range of motion. Progressive synovial changes eventually involve all of the axial joints including the temporomandibular joint. Although temporomandibular joint dysfunction is usually found in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, there are only nine documented cases of true bony ankylosis. A case report and review of the literature of ankylosis spondylitis associated with true temporomandibular joint bony ankylosis is presented. Surgical treatment included a gap arthroplasty and placement of an interpositional Silastic implant.