BackgroundThe role of Deep brain stimulation in the treatment of dystonia has been widely documented. However, there is limited literature on the outcome of lesioning surgery in unilateral dystonia. We present our long‐term experience of lesioning of Globus pallidus internus (GPi) for dystonia.MethodsPatients undergoing radiofrequency lesioning of GPi for unilateral dystonia, between 1999 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated using the Burke‐Fahn‐Marsden Dystonia rating scale (BFMDRS) and Dystonia Disability scale (DDS) preoperatively, at the short term follow up (<1 year) and at long‐term follow up (2‐7.5 years). Video recordings performed at these time points were independently review by a blinded movement disorders specialists.ResultsEleven patients were included for analysis. The preoperative, short‐term follow‐up and long term follow up motor BFMDRS and DDS were 15.5 (IQR 10.5, 23.75) and 10.5 (IQR 6.0,14.5); 3.0 (IQR 1.0, 6.0, p=0.02) and 3.0 (IQR 3.0, 8.0, p=0.016); and 14.25 (IQR 4.0,20.0, p=.20) and 10.5 (IQR 2.0, 15.0, p=0.71) respectively. For observers B, the BFMDRS scores at the same time points were 19 (IQR 12.5, 27.0), 7.5 (IQR 6.0,15.0 p=0.002) and 21 (IQR 7.0, 22.0, p=0.65) respectively. The improvement was statistically significant for all observations at short term follow up but not at the long term follow up.ConclusionPallidotomy is effective for hemidystonia or focal dystonia, in the short term. Continued benefit was seen in the longer‐term in some patients, whereas others worsened. Larger studies may be able to explain this in future.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.