Lumbar spinal stenosis affects approximately 10% of the population. As society ages, this number is rising. As one of the most commonly encountered spinal conditions, it is important to be aware of the treatment options for lumbar stenosis. Pain medication, physical therapy and epidural steroid injections are all temporary solutions, as spinal stenosis is a structural disorder resulting from spinal degeneration. This article will review lumbar laminectomy and the literature supporting surgical intervention.