Table 1.

Main indications for subtotal petrosectomy

Chronic otitis media and middle ear cholesteatoma	As a last resort, when there is no chance of rehabilitation of the ear or in dangerous situations such as large tegmental defects or perylimphatic fistulas
Tegmen defects and meningoencephalic herniation repair	If the defect is too large, the herniation is too severe, or the defect is too medial and no other techniques are applicable
Facial nerve decompression surgery	When the second and third tracts of the facial nerve need to be decompressed, as this provides excellent exposure of the nerve
Middle ear lesions	To overcome difficult surgical conditions, such as cochlear fistula, insufficient exposure of tumor margins, or excessive bleeding
Difficult cochlear implants (CI) or active middle ear implants (AMEI) in case of altered ear anatomy or malformations	To get a better control over the area of the round window to facilitate a correct and complete insertion of the array
Malignancies of the ear and the parotid gland	As a step in conjunction with other procedures to achieve radical exeresis of the lesion