Objective: To explore the effect of propofol on cognitive dysfunction and cGAS/STING signaling pathway in rats with tibial fractures undergoing open reduction. Methods: 90 rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, 2'3'-cGAMP group, propofol group, and propofol + 2'3'-cGAMP group, with 18 rats in each group. Except for the control group, all other groups underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery for tibial fractures during anaesthesia. At 7 d postoperatively, the recognition and memory function were evaluated through the Y Maze and new object recognition tests, the neuronal damage in CA1 region of hippocampus was evaluated through the Nissl staining, the IL-18, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the hippocampal tissue were detected through the ELISA method, the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor Aα1 (GABAARα1) mRNA level in hippocampal tissue were detected through the RT-qPCR method, the cGAS (cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase), IRF (interferon regulatory factor) 3, p-IRF3, STING (stimulator of interferon genes), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and p-NF-κB p65 protein level in hippocampal tissue were detected through the Western blot method. Results: Compared with the control group, the model group rats exhibited decreased cognitive and memory abilities, along with a marked reduction in the number of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampal tissue, as well as decreased relative expression levels of ChAT and GABAARα1 mRNA. Additionally, there were increased levels of IL-18, IL-1β, TNF-α, and 2'3'-cGAMP, the relative expression levels of cGAS and STING proteins, and the ratios of p-IRF3/IRF3 and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the 2'3'-cGAMP group rats also displayed decreased cognitive and memory abilities, a marked reduction in the number of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampal tissue, and decreased relative expression levels of ChAT and GABAARα1 mRNA. Furthermore, there were increased levels of IL-18, IL-1β, TNF-α, and 2'3'-cGAMP, the relative expression levels of cGAS and STING proteins, and the ratios of p-IRF3/IRF3 and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 (P < 0.05). The above-mentioned indicators showed improvement in the propofol group, while 2'3'-cGAMP partially reversed the ameliorative effects of propofol. Conclusion: In rats after tibial fracture open reduction, propofol can improve cognitive function by inhibiting the activation of cGAS/STING signaling pathway for anti-inflammatory and nerve protection. 如需进一步润色、翻译或格式化为学术论文段落，也可以告诉我！