A combination of an orthopedic surgical cable and clamp (106, 110, 114, 118, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1100), comprising: an orthopedic surgical cable (108, 306, 506) adapted to be installed relative to a bone in a patient, in order to apply a force to the bone; a clamping body; and a clamping mechanism adapted to cooperate with the clamping body to capture a first portion and a second portion of the orthopedic surgical cable between the clamping mechanism and the clamping body; wherein one of the clamping body and the clamping mechanism is a lower clamp body and the other of the clamping body and the clamping mechanism is an upper clamp body, and wherein one of the lower clamp body and the upper clamp body comprises one or more recesses and the other of the lower clamp body and the upper clamp body is configured to fit within the one or more recesses; whereby the orthopedic surgical cable and clamp are adapted to allow the orthopedic surgical cable to be tensioned and secured by the clamp at a first tension, and further adapted to allow the orthopedic surgical cable to be subsequently tensioned and secured by the clamp at a second tension; characterized in that the combination further comprises a force application member (204, 310, 404, 508, 604, 704, 904, 1006, 1104, 1606) detachably connected to the clamping body and clamping mechanism, the force application member adapted to be activated in order to force the clamping body and clamping mechanism to grip the first and second portions of the orthopedic surgical cable in a manner whereby the force and consequent gripping are subject to gradual control by the force application member. an orthopedic surgical cable (108, 306, 506) adapted to be installed relative to a bone in a patient, in order to apply a force to the bone; a clamping body; and a clamping mechanism adapted to cooperate with the clamping body to capture a first portion and a second portion of the orthopedic surgical cable between the clamping mechanism and the clamping body; wherein one of the clamping body and the clamping mechanism is a lower clamp body and the other of the clamping body and the clamping mechanism is an upper clamp body, and wherein one of the lower clamp body and the upper clamp body comprises one or more recesses and the other of the lower clamp body and the upper clamp body is configured to fit within the one or more recesses; whereby the orthopedic surgical cable and clamp are adapted to allow the orthopedic surgical cable to be tensioned and secured by the clamp at a first tension, and further adapted to allow the orthopedic surgical cable to be subsequently tensioned and secured by the clamp at a second tension; characterized in that the combination further comprises a force application member (204, 310, 404, 508, 604, 704, 904, 1006, 1104, 1606) detachably connected to the clamping body and clamping mechanism, the force application member adapted to be activated in order to force the clamping body and clamping mechanism to grip the first and second portions of the orthopedic surgical cable in a manner whereby the force and consequent gripping are subject to gradual control by the force application member.