RÉSUMÉ
Consciousness disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI) are alterations in consciousness due to damage to the brain parenchyma and/or brain vessels. As the number of TBI patients continues to increase, so does the number of patients with consciousness disorders following TBI. The patients′ quality of life was seriously affected due to a long course of illness and loss of most of independence. However, at present, the mechanisms of consciousness disorders in TBI are still unknown. The assessment of conscious state in patients with consciousness disorders following TBI mainly depends on scales, resulting in a high rate of misdiagnosis. Common interventions, including pharmacological interventions such as amantadine and zolpidem, as well as non-pharmacological interventions such as neuromodulation and sensory stimulation programs, fail to achieve extensive efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more accurate assessment indicators as well as effective therapeutic interventions. Various neurophysiological activities sustained by sleep are crucial for consciousness. Sleep regularity is likely to reflect the conscious state of patients with consciousness disorders following TBI. Sleep regularity is generally reflected through sleep architecture, including circadian rhythms and various sleep characteristics. Therefore, the authors reviewed the research progress in the application of sleep architecture in the assessment and recovery of conscious state in patients with consciousness disorders following TBI, so as to provide reference for its clinical application.