Abstract: A surgical fixation system for stabilizing spinous processes of adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another comprising at least one first fixing element and at least one second fixing element, which can be transferred relative to one another from an insertion position into an implantation position, wherein the fixing elements in the implantation position have a smaller spacing from one another than in the insertion position and in which implantation position the fixing elements are engageable laterally from different sides with at least one of the spinous processes in each case, and comprising a securing device for securing the fixing elements relative to one another in the implantation position and comprising at least one spacer element, which can be fixed by the fixing elements in the implantation position thereof in the intervertebral space between the spinous processes.