Sleep Significant for Postsurgical Healing

Postsurgical patients need to get their sleep. Anya Miller, M.D., a surgeon at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, and her colleagues studied 50 patients who had undergone total hip or total knee replacement surgery. These patients were more fortunate than most in that they were housed on a floor of the hospital that observes a quiet time between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. where the doors are closed and lights are dimmed.

The researchers examined the patients’ total sleep time, sleep efficiency, pain scores and use of narcotics for pain. They found that that increased pain scores result in decreased sleep duration. Miller stated, “Better pain control could potentially improve sleep duration for these patients.”

The test results showed that postsurgical patients have significantly decreased sleep efficiency and wake more frequently when compared to the population. Poor sleep results in higher pain scores and better pain control results in improved sleep, which, the researchers believe, could decrease hospital stays after surgery.

Miller said, “Sleep is very important to patients’ recovery following surgery. If we can identify factors that cause disruption in patients’ sleep such as pain, noise and interruptions in the hospital setting we can improve sleep quality and potentially decrease adverse outcomes.”