If the rest of your application is strong, you will probably be ok, as stated above. But don't be fooled that it could potentially be a red flag at some, if not many, programs. As has been stated before, most programs are weeding through hundreds of applications for a few spots and are looking for a reasons to whittle down the pool to a more manageable size. A HP in an away Ortho rotation (whether in reality deserved or not) will definately be a red flag to some who review applications. It is rare for programs to dish out HP's to those who truly are pursuing Ortho. The whole subjective grading system is silly, but ultimately, people traditionally hand out H's to those who are rotating to give their stamp of approval. Anything less can be that person's or program's attempt to blackball you as a candidate for some perceived incompetancy (social or otherwise). I'm not saying that is the reason for your HP, but I would at least pursue the grade further and be prepared to respond to questions about it at interviews.
Good luck, ED
