Bilateral alloplastic prostheses for temporomandibular joint reconstruction in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or Bechterew disease is a chronic, usually progressive, systemic inflammatory joint disease, which predominantly affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. In these joints, early inflammatory changes are followed by lumbosacral pain and progressive restriction of spinal movement associated with radiologically visible intervertebral ossification. Peripheral joint involvement occurs in 10 to 30% of patients and shows a predilection for the shoulders, knees, ankles, feet, and wrists. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement has been described, and its reported frequency varies from 11 to 35%. However, ankylosis is uncommon with a single documented case utilizing an alloplastic prosthesis for total joint replacement. A case report of bilateral ankylosis of the jaw treated with alloplastic prostheses for total TMJ replacement using a Brazilian system in a patient with AS is presented.