Should I keep pursuing Ortho with P in Surgery

Why take a year for research when that is clearly not a weakness for you? You have plenty of pubs and plenty more time to get more without taking time off.

The P isn't good, but Your app will not be the only one with a blemish. Focus on finishing the year with all HP or Honors in the rest of your rotations, rock your away rotations, get strong letters, interview well, and you'll do fine. Be prepared to address why you got a P when asked. If you don't match it will not be because of your P in surgery, but WHY you got a P could be part of a larger problem that might impede you from succeeding the other tasks listed above. Given your step 1 score I'm guessing you didn't get a P because you bombed the shelf.

My question for you guys in the process of interviewing and residents is how important is research? Is it just fluff?

Also, what type of MS3 grades will sink my application?

I will try hard to get honors and high passes, but honestly, I wasn't "not trying hard" in my surgery clerkship so I don't know how far effort will go.

I'm really at a crossroads as this is the time to decide what to do as away rotations for Ortho and other specialities are beginning to take applications.