Patent ID: 8292893

Claim:
Surgical instrument for tensioning first and second plate-shaped engaging elements with respect to each other at opposite sides of bone portions, the first engaging element carrying two spaced-apart pin-shaped or rod-shaped connecting members which pass through openings in the second engaging element, the surgical instrument comprising: a supporting surface for engagement on a side of the second engaging element that faces away from the first engaging element, a tensioning device engaging the connecting members for displacement of the connecting members and consequently of the first engaging element in a direction towards the second engaging element, two spaced-apart grip elements, each of the grip elements being releasably connectable to a respective connecting member, and a compensating element, the tensioning device engaging the grip elements though the compensating element, the compensating element being adapted to allow a differently sized respective displacement of each of the two grip elements and consequently of the respective two connecting members upon tensioning of the tensioning device.