TKA Melatonin and Sleep Quality

Association Between Melatonin Use and Improved Sleep Quality After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Control Trial

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare the effects of melatonin vs. placebo in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This RCT aims to study the effects melatonin has on sleep quality after TKA. Patients will be blinded to their respective groups and will be instructed to take either 5mg melatonin or a placebo pill (Vitamin C) for 6 weeks postoperative. Sleep quality surveys will be administered preoperatively and post-operative week 6, 90-days and 1 year. Poor sleep quality is a common issue faced by patients undergoing TKA. The goal of this study is see if melatonin can improve postoperative sleep quality, and if so, does improved sleep quality correlate to improvements in other postoperative outcomes.

This study will compare postoperative sleep quality in two groups of patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA):

• Group 1 will take one melatonin (5 mg) tablet nightly, ~30 minutes before bedtime during the 6 week postoperative period
• Group 2 will take one placebo (5 mg Vitamin C) tablet nightly, ~30 minutes before bedtime during the 6 week postoperative period

The primary outcome will be sleep quality at 6 weeks. Sleep quality will be measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The survey will be administered preoperatively, 6-weeks, 90-days and 1 year postoperatively. Preoperative surveys will be completed in-person, on-site by study participants. All postoperative surveys will be distributed via email.

Secondary outcomes include:

• (KOOS Jr, LEAS, VR-12, VAS) administered preoperatively, at 6-weeks, 90-days and 1-year post-operatively.
• Total opioids prescribed in first 3 months postoperative will be collected using iStop
• Frequency of CMS defined surgicalcomplications in the first 90-days after primary TKA.
• Adverse events of Melatonin during the first 6 weeks (collected via email survey sent to participants once per week, for the first 6 weeks)
• Study medication compliance at 6 weeks (collected via email survey sent to participants once per week, for the first 6 weeks)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing primary, unilateral TKA
• Primary diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA)
• Aged 18+
• Subject is opioid naive (has not taken opioids during the 6 months prior to surgery)
• Subject is not currently taking sleep medication
• English speaking
• Has working email (for survey purposes)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with diagnosis other than OA including: Inflammatory arthritis; Post-traumatic OA; Chronic pain; Insomnia*; Depression*; Anxiety*; Any active sleep disorder

• Planned contralateral knee or subsequent total joint arthroplasty within 90 days

• Any planned surgery within 90 days

• Patient taking medication for depression or insomnia or anxiety during the 6 months prior to surgery

• Patients with renal or hepatic disorders as these can affect melatonin metabolism

  • Insomnia, anxiety, and depression will be defined as use of controlled medication for that disorder which will be identified in istop or HSS record of the patient filled in the 6 months prior to surgery