Kaku Barkoh, M.D. Board Certified & Fellowship Trained Spine Surgeon
Dr. Kaku Barkoh is a board certified, fellowship trained spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and non-fusion surgical techniques. He is currently practicing in North Houston, Texas.
He has extensive training in minimally invasive cervical and lumbar decompressions, minimally invasive lumbar fusions, and cervical laminoplasty. He is also certified to implant cervical disc replacements.
Dr. Barkoh believes most spine problems can be successfully treated with conservative, nonsurgical methods. But, when surgical intervention is needed, he utilizes the most advanced technology to perform minimally invasive procedures that allow patients to have a faster recovery with less post-operative pain.
Dr. Barkoh grew up in the Texas hill country. After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, he went on to excel at Texas A&M University. During his collegiate career, Dr. Barkoh was selected as a University Scholar, President’s Endowed Scholar, and received several awards for his involvement in student organizations. Majoring in biology, he graduated summa cum laude with Foundation Honors.
AOSpine North America Annual Fellows Forum
He then matriculated to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. There, he received the National Medical Association’s Emerging Scholar Award.
Following medical school, he completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the renowned Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee where they literally write the foremost comprehensive orthopaedic textbook in the world, Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics. During residency, he had the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field of orthopaedic surgery as well as help provide care for the Memphis Redbirds, University of Memphis athletic teams, Memphis Grizzlies, and several area high school teams.
Dr. Barkoh giving a lecture on minimally invasive spine surgery at Lonestar College Academy for Lifelong Learning.
Dr. Barkoh completed his spine fellowship training at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. This unique training opportunity allowed him to learn from both orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons that are recognized internationally as pioneers in minimally invasive and cervical non-fusion surgical techniques.
Dr. Barkoh and his family are excited to join the community. When he’s not providing exceptional medical care to his patients, Dr. Barkoh enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and watching sports (especially Fightin’ Texas Aggie football!).
Education
- BS in BiologyTexas A&M University: Summa Cum Laude, Foundation Honors
- MDUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical School
- Orthopaedic Surgery ResidencyUniversity of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic
- Spine FellowshipUniversity of Southern California
Honors & Recognition
- 2021 NASS SpineLine 20 under 40 Honoree
- Texas A&M President’s Endowed Scholar
- Texas A&M University Scholar
- National Medical Association’s Emerging Scholars Award
- Neil and Elaine Griffin Foundation Scholar
- Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award
- Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
- Golden Key International Honor Society
- AOSpine North America Fellow
- Medical Director of Spine Surgery HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood
Research, Publications & Presentations
- Barkoh K, Lucas J, Wang J. Masters of Spinal Surgery-Hall of Fame: Cervical Laminoplasty.
- Lee L, Barkoh K, Wang J. Thoracolumbar Stenosis: Miller et al. Essential Orthopaedics Second Edition.
- Barkoh K, Ohiorhenuan I, et al. The DOWN Questionnaire: A Novel Screening Tool for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. Published Global Spine Journal. 2018 Dec.
- Dedeogulari E, Paholpak P, Barkoh K, et al. Effect of mental health on post-operative infection rates following cervical spine fusion procedures. Journal of Orthopaedics. 2017 Dec; 14(4):501-506.
- Barkoh K, Lucas J, et al. Paraplegic patients: how to measure balance and what is normal or functional? European Spine Journal. 2018 Feb; 27 (Suppl 1): 109-114.
- Jacobsen K, Lee L, Barkoh K, et al. ACDF vs. PCF: A retrospective study of dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia incidences by swallowing phase.
- Paholpak P, Nazareth A, Barkoh K, et al. Space available for cord, motion, and disc degeneration at the adjacent segments level of degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis using kinematic MRI. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2017 Aug; 45: 89-99.
- Paholpak P, Dedeogullari E, Lee C, Tamai K, Barkoh K, et al. Do modic changes, disc degeneration, translation and angular motion affect facet osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. European Journal of Radiology. 2018 Jan; 98: 193-199
- Walters J, Barkoh K, et al. Younger Patients Report Similar Activity Levels to Older Patients After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2016 Sep; 25(9): 1418-1424.
- Barkoh K, Mascioli A. Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction Using the Ipsilateral Anterior Tibial Tendon from a Concomitant Below-Knee Amputation. Campbell Orthopaedic Journal 2016;2:16-19.
- Barkoh K, Warner Jr. W, et al. Does preoperative orientation and education alleviate anxiety in posterior spinal fusion patients? A prospective randomized study. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2015;35:276-279.
- Barkoh K, Warner Jr. W, et al. Atypical neurologic deficits following ponte osteotomy and posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis. Campbell Orthopaedic Journal 2015;1:55-61.
- Hanson CM, Barkoh K, Rathjen KE. Functional outcome of adolescent tibia vara. Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
- “Effect of Mental Health on Post-Operative Infection Rates Following Cervical Spine Fusion Procedures”. Electronic Poster. Global Spine Congress. Milan, Italy, May 3-6, 2017.
- “Correlation between Modic Changes and Facet Osteoarthritis in Lumbar Spine”. Poster Presentation. AOSpine North America Fellows Research Forum, Banff, Alberta, Canada, March 23-26, 2017.
- “Do preoperative hospital tours alleviate anxiety in posterior spinal fusion patients? A prospective, randomized study”. Podium Presentation. Mid America Orthopaedic Association. San Antonio, Texas, April 23-27, 2014.
- “Anxiety in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion: A prospective study to identify effective intervention strategies.” Electronic Poster. Scoliosis Research Society, Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013.