A surgical staple for compressing bones or bone fragments includes a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge monolithically formed with the first and second legs. The bridge has a first end section from which the first leg extends and a second end section from which the second leg extends. A connection between the first leg and the first end second forms a cross-sectional profile, and the bridge has an engagement portion at the first end section that extends away from the cross-sectional profile for engagement with an external tool to adjust the staple from a relaxed state to an expanded state. When the staple is in the relaxed state, at least a portion of the bridge is bent or curved, and free ends of the legs are closer to one another than are portions of the legs connected to the bridge.
