Perspectives of Orthopaedic Trauma Association Members on Firearm Injury Prevention

Background: Firearm injury has become an escalating public health crisis in the United States and is now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents who are 1 to 19 years of age. Orthopaedic trauma surgeons frequently manage the complex sequelae of these injuries and are increasingly engaged in prevention advocacy. This study aimed to characterize the perspectives of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members on firearm ownership, injury prevention, and the organization’s advocacy role. Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional, web-based survey was distributed to all 3,721 active OTA members between April 10 and July 7, 2025. The questionnaire, which included 27 numbered items and 7 additional open-ended comment prompts and was adapted from prior surveys by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), assessed demographic characteristics, firearm ownership and storage practices, clinical exposure, prior safety training, and views on firearm injury prevention and OTA advocacy. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses, which were contextualized within published ACS and AANS findings. Results: A total of 503 respondents (13.5% response rate) completed the survey. Among 412 clinically active respondents, 95.6% (394) reported treating firearm-related injuries. Nearly one-half (47.4%) of respondents owned a firearm, yet 85.3% supported OTA-led, nonpartisan advocacy to reduce firearm injuries, deaths, and disability, comparable with support rates in ACS studies (85.5%) and AANS studies (78.7%). Respondents emphasized firearm safety training, secure storage, and integrating mental health into prevention strategies as priorities. Qualitative responses underscored the importance of evidence-based, nonpartisan engagement sensitive to regional and legal contexts. Conclusions: OTA members broadly endorse firearm injury prevention as a public health priority. With nearly one-half of the respondents to our survey reporting firearm ownership, similar to rates in other surgical specialties, respondents expressed strong support for training, secure storage, and advocacy initiatives, reflecting a balanced, nonpartisan approach to firearm injury prevention. These findings establish a baseline for ongoing OTA-led efforts and align the organization with broader multidisciplinary prevention initiatives. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level V . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.