ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical efficacy of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis, in order to provide the most appropriate treatment for lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis. MethodsA total of 120 patients with lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis and low back pain treated between August 2014 and August 2015 were randomly divided into three groups with 40 in each. Group A was treated with glucosamine hydrochloride; group B accepted loxoprofen-sodium; and group C was given glucosamine hydrochloride plus loxoprofen-sodium. The courses of treatment were all 8 weeks in the three groups. Follow-up lasted for 16 weeks. Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue score (VAS) of the patients were compared before treatment, 8 weeks after treatment, and 8 weeks after withdrawal. ResultsThree patients in group B gave up treatment due to upper gastrointestinal moderate pain after taking the drug. Another 12 patients in group B suffered from upper gastrointestinal mild discomfort, and the symptoms alleviated after accepting symptomatic treatment. There were no drug-related adverse reactions in group A and C. A total of 117 patients completed the 8-week treatment and were all followed up. Before treatment, the ODI scores and VAS scores were not significantly different among the groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the scores changed significantly in all the groups (P<0.05). At week 8 after treatment, the clinical efficacy in group B and C was superior to that in group A, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between group B and C (P>0.05). Eight weeks after withdrawal, the clinical efficacy in group A and C was better than that in group B, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between group A and C (P>0.05). ConclusionGlucosamine hydrochloride is effective for low back pain caused by lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis, which has no non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related complications. It is worthy of clinical application.