Disparities in trauma care: A Western Trauma Association panel discussion on sex, financial, and geographic disparities in trauma care

Reducing disparities and achieving health equity are critical goals for the trauma community. Although significant advances have been made in short-term trauma outcomes, disparities persist across various dimensions including race, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. This manuscript represents a distillation of a panel discussion from the 2024 Western Trauma Association meeting that examined three under-recognized categories of trauma disparities beyond traditional demographic factors. First, sex-related disparities in motor vehicle crashes stem from crash test dummies designed primarily for male physiology. Second, financial toxicity and exploring the relationship between acute trauma, financial hardship, and long-term mental and physical quality of life. Third, geographic disparities create “trauma deserts” where disadvantaged populations experience prolonged transport times and reduced access to life-saving care. The panel explored opportunities within each to improve patient outcomes at the local, regional, and national levels. ( J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026;00:000–000. Copyright© 2026 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)