Surgical & pain
SEO & AEO for Joint Replacement Surgeons
Get found by patients searching for hip replacement, knee replacement, and joint reconstruction surgeons.
Joint replacement is one of the most researched elective surgeries – nearly 60% of US adults search for health information online.[1] Patients spend weeks comparing surgeons, researching techniques, and reading reviews before choosing who will perform their procedure. Your online presence is critical to being considered.
Total joint replacement represents one of healthcare's most successful procedures – and one of its most competitive markets for patient acquisition. The AAOS American Joint Replacement Registry has captured over 4.3 million procedures,[2] and that number continues to grow as baby boomers age and procedures become available to younger patients.
The patient journey for joint replacement is uniquely research-intensive. Unlike emergency procedures, patients have time to thoroughly research their options. They compare surgical approaches (anterior vs. posterior hip, minimally invasive knee), evaluate surgeon credentials and volume, and read patient reviews extensively – reviews directly impact local search ranking.[3] Surgeons who aren't visible throughout this research process simply don't make the consideration set.
Why joint replacement practices struggle with search visibility
Understanding these challenges is the first step to solving them.
Patients compare multiple surgeons
Joint replacement patients typically research 3-5 surgeons before making a decision. If your website doesn't clearly communicate your expertise and outcomes, you won't make the shortlist.
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Hospital systems dominate search results
Large health systems rank for "joint replacement [city]" with massive marketing budgets. Independent surgeons need a smarter strategy to compete.
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AI is changing how patients research surgery
More patients are asking ChatGPT for surgeon recommendations. Your practice needs to be structured so AI tools can accurately represent your expertise.
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Our approach for joint replacement surgeons
We build comprehensive SEO and AEO infrastructure specifically designed for joint replacement surgeons. Our platform creates procedure-specific content for every joint you operate on, implements medical schema markup that AI systems can parse, and establishes your practice as a recognized entity across search and AI platforms.
Our approach emphasizes the factors patients care about: surgical approach, volume, outcomes, and patient experience – the differentiators that help independent surgeons compete with hospital systems.
- Create detailed content for each joint replacement procedure you perform – hip, knee, shoulder, and more.
- Highlight your surgical approach, outcomes, and patient experience to differentiate from competitors.
- Build structured data that helps AI tools understand and cite your practice.
- Optimize for high-intent searches like "best knee replacement surgeon near me."
Live in one day
Unlike agencies that take months to show results, our AI-powered system deploys optimized content for your practice in days. You review, we publish.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions joint replacement practices ask about SEO and AEO.
Most patients start with online research – searching conditions ("bone on bone knee pain"), procedures ("total knee replacement vs partial"), and eventually providers ("best knee surgeon near me"). Referrals from primary care are common, but patients typically research referred surgeons online before scheduling. Being visible throughout this journey is essential.
Key takeaways
- Joint replacement patients research 3-5 surgeons before choosing
- Surgical volume, approach, and outcomes are key decision factors
- Hospital systems dominate generic searches – compete on specificity
- AI tools are becoming a significant surgeon research channel
- Structured data and entity consistency are essential for visibility
Sources
Learn more
Explore these concepts to understand how we help joint replacement practices get found.
Guide
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
When a patient asks ChatGPT "best orthopedic surgeon in Boston," is your practice among the sources it cites? With nearly 60% of US adults searching for health information online,[cdc-health-it-2023] and AI tools rapidly becoming part of that journey, practices that aren't optimized for answer engines are invisible to a growing segment of patients.
Guide
E-E-A-T for healthcare websites
E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness – the criteria Google uses to evaluate content quality.[google-qrg] Healthcare websites fall under "Your Money or Your Life" (YMYL) categories, meaning Google holds medical content to the highest quality standards because inaccurate health information can directly harm people.[google-qrg]
Guide
Patient reviews and reputation management
Patient reviews significantly influence both search rankings and patient decisions. Google explicitly states that "review count and review score factor into local search ranking,"[google-local-ranking] making online reputation management essential for attracting new patients while maintaining trust.
Guide
Zero-click search in healthcare
Zero-click searches occur when users get the information they need directly from the search results page without clicking through to any website. With 58.5% of US Google searches now ending without a click,[sparktoro-2024] healthcare practices face significant implications for visibility and patient acquisition.
Common challenges
Problems that practices in this specialty commonly face.
Common Problem
Why Your Practice Doesn't Appear When Patients Ask ChatGPT
Patients are telling you they "asked ChatGPT" or "checked with AI" before booking. When you try the same queries, your practice doesn't come up. Meanwhile, competitors – sometimes with fewer credentials or worse reviews – are getting mentioned. This isn't random, and understanding why is the first step to fixing it.
Common Problem
Why Great Reviews Aren't Improving Your Rankings
You've worked hard to earn five-star reviews. Patients love you. But when someone searches for your specialty in your area, you're nowhere to be found. The frustrating truth is that reviews matter for local rankings, but they're not the only factor – and focusing on reviews alone while neglecting other signals can leave you invisible.
Related specialties
Explore how we help practices in related specialties.
Surgical & pain
Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic patients actively research providers online – nearly 60% of US adults search for health information online. They search for specific conditions, procedures, and specialists before choosing who to trust with their care. If your practice isn't visible in Google and AI search results, you're losing patients to competitors who are.
Surgical & pain
Physical Therapy
With over 600,000 practicing physical therapists in the US and a $47.6 billion market, physical therapy is a highly competitive space. Patients increasingly have direct access to PT services without physician referral, making your online visibility critical. Nearly 60% of US adults search for health information online – your search presence determines whether they find your practice.
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