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The purpose of this study was to determine serum levels of sleep-related cytokines in patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) who were experiencing pain-related sleep disturbance. Peripheral blood samples before surgery were collected from 63 study participants and divided into three groups: RCT with sleep disturbance group; SD group (<i>n</i> = 21), RCT with normal sleep group; NS group (<i>n</i> = 21), and patients with chronic shoulder instability; control group (<i>n</i> = 21). Serum concentration levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured via ELISA. The associations between serum levels of sleep-related cytokines and clinical scores and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were analyzed. Serum concentration levels of TNF-α were significantly higher in the SD group compared with those of the NS and control groups (<i>p</i> = < 0.001 and 0.05). Serum levels of IL-8 and IL-10 were significantly higher in the SD group compared with those of control group (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and = 0.05), but did not differ significantly from that of the NS group. There were no associations between serum levels of sleep-related cytokines and all clinical scores. The current findings suggest that TNF-α may be associated with sleep disturbance in patients with RCT.