Abstract: A device for tensioning a surgical appliance is disclosed. The device comprises two elongate lever elements, anchor means articulated to a first end portion of one of the lever elements and adapted to be attached by a cortical screw to a bone fragment on one side of a fracture, and a hook element provided on a first end portion of the respective other lever element and adapted to be engaged with a plate member attached to a bone fragment on the respective other side of the fracture. The other end portions of the two lever elements are articulatedly intercoupled by means to exert a force between the two lever elements and to indicate the magnitude of that force. A threaded member is rotatably retained in each of two guide elements to interconnect intermediate portions of the two lever elements.