Although deep surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), there are conflicting data regarding the incidence of deep SSI, and no comprehensive evaluation of the associated risk factors has been undertaken. We performed a systematic review of the literature; undertaking computer-aided searches of electronic databases, assessment of methodological quality, and a best-evidence synthesis. The incidence of SSI ranged from 0.2% before discharge to 1.1% for the period up to and including 5 years post surgery. Greater severity of a pre-existing illness and a longer duration of surgery were found to be independent risk factors for deep SSI. There is a need for high-quality, prospective studies to further identify modifiable risk factors for deep SSI after THA.
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