The invention proposes a tensioning element (1) for fixing the fracture ends of the bones in a bone fracture with a contoured body which is hollow when viewed from above and comprises a circumferential wall (6). The contoured body comprises two face sided receiving sections (a, 8b) lying opposite to each other, for receiving fastening means that can be pushed through the contoured body, and two lateral flanks with angled sections (10). The circumferential wall (6) of the contoured body is, at least in sections, in the region of the face side receiving sections (8a, 8b) and the lateral angled sections (10) resiliently deformable. Further, a defined elastic behavior of the tensioning element (1) is impressed via the angled sections (10) in such a way that a predetermined tension can be generated between the receiving sections (a, 8b). According to the present invention, the contoured body comprises at least one articulation (2, 4) for compensating and distributing stress peaks, wherein the at least one articulation (2, 4) is present in the region of the circumferential wall (6).
