Inclusion Criteria:  patients who suffered cervical spine injury caused by a traffic accident in the previous 48 hours  Exclusion Criteria:  younger than 18 years of age; older than 70 years of age; the presence of associated injuries; previous surgery on the cervical spine; previously diagnosed arthrosis of the cervical spine; the presence of a malignant process and previous cervical spine injuries; history of Diazepam allergy