To develop a set of cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) to alleviate anxiety in orthopedic surgery (OS) patients, to explore the intervention effects of CBTs on the indicators of anxiety, sleep quality, and pain sensation in OS patients, and to promote them. A total of 68 qualified subjects were selected from among the 103 patients with orthopedic diseases who were hospitalized in the orthopedic department of the hospital between June 2022 and November 2023. According to the different nursing methods, they were divided into a psychological intervention (PI) group and a control intervention group. Among them, 34 patients received hospital-developed CBT for OS in the PI group, and 34 patients received standard orders from the medical staff in the control intervention group. Tools such as self-assessment of anxiety, Athens insomnia scale, state anxiety scale, visual analog pain method, and self-management level scale were utilized to assess the change in anxiety levels, sleep quality, pain perception, and self-management level of the 2 groups of patients before and after the surgery. Following the CBT intervention, patients in the PI group had significantly lower Athens insomnia scale (5.32 ± 0.42), state anxiety scale (38.21 ± 1.12), and visual analog pain method (3.93 ± 1.24) scores than those in the control intervention group. This difference was statistically significant (P < .05). In the meantime, patients in the PI group had a substantially higher correct rate of illness cognition assessment (98.21%) than patients in the control intervention group (65.12%), and this difference was statistically significant (P < .05). The study collated the factors affecting anxiety in OS patients through questionnaire survey and statistical analysis experiment and then formulated a detailed CBT strategy for specific problems. Finally, CBT is a valuable tool for reducing anxiety in OS patients. As such, it deserves to be promoted and used in clinical settings.