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Fragmented Sleep And Opioid Medication Utilization During Hospitalization Following Orthopaedic Trauma
David Marvin1, Jack Hudson2, Jaimo Ahn1,3
1Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics.
Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Orthopaedic trauma patients experienced short, fragmented sleep during hospitalization. Increased opioid use was linked to poorer sleep quality, highlighting a critical area for patient care improvement.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Sleep Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Inpatient sleep disturbances are common, particularly after major trauma.
- Opioid medications are frequently used for pain management in orthopaedic trauma patients.
- Understanding the relationship between sleep and opioid use is crucial for optimizing recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess sleep patterns in hospitalized orthopaedic trauma patients.
- To investigate the association between inpatient sleep quality and opioid medication utilization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a prospective randomized clinical trial data.
- Utilized wrist-worn actigraphy devices to measure sleep duration and fragmentation.
- Employed linear mixed-effects models to analyze sleep and opioid use (MED).
Main Results:
- 99 participants (predominantly Black and female) averaged 6 hours 36 minutes of sleep per 24 hours.
- Sleep was fragmented with an average of 9.1 awakenings.
- Each additional daily Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MED) was associated with 2.7 minutes less sleep (p=0.004).
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized orthopaedic trauma patients exhibit significantly short and fragmented sleep.
- Higher inpatient opioid utilization correlates with diminished sleep quality.
- Findings suggest a need for interventions to improve sleep and manage pain effectively in this population.
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