Open nephrectomy is a surgical procedure performed in the treatment of various kidney disorders. This procedure is typically carried out when the kidney is severely diseased or has lost its function, and other treatment options have proven insufficient. The primary indications for open nephrectomy include:

* Kidney Cancer: For the removal of cancerous tissue.
* Severe Infections: Life-threatening kidney infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatment or are recurrent.
* Severe Damage Due to Kidney Stones: Irreversible damage caused by large, complicated kidney stones that significantly impair kidney function or lead to infections.
* Traumatic Injuries: Untreatable traumatic injuries causing severe damage to the kidney.
* Congenital Anomalies: Congenital structural abnormalities of the kidney that cause severe symptoms or threaten kidney function.
* Polycystic Kidney Disease: When the kidney needs to be removed due to large cysts causing pain, infections, or kidney failure.
* Chronic Kidney Failure: In some cases, severely symptomatic or non-functional kidneys that could be a source of infection before transplantation may need to be removed.
* Uncontrolled Hypertension: Situations where severe hypertension, developed due to renovascular disease and uncontrollable by other treatment methods, can be corrected by removing the diseased kidney.