Abstract: A cranial fixation device has a cranial clamp with first and second clamping elements. The first clamping element is fixedly coupled to a rod that extends from the first clamping element and ends in an end section. The second clamping element is movably coupled to the rod and is further coupled to a hand-operable applicator having a holding part, a pushing part, and a connecting part. The end section of the rod is fastened to the holding part, and the hand-operable applicator is configured such that pushing of the connecting part towards the rod increases the distance between the holding part and the pushing part to thereby move the second clamping element in the direction of the first clamping element. The rod has a cross section which at least partly has a vertex or vertices.