A staple comprising: a bridge configured to be elastically stretchable; a first leg connected to said bridge and configured to be elastically bendable; and a second leg connected to said bridge and configured to be elastically bendable; said first and second legs being connected to said bridge so that they are angled toward one another when they are in an unstrained state; such that when said bridge is elastically strained into an elongated condition, and said first and second legs are elastically strained so that they extend substantially parallel to one another, and said first and second legs are disposed in appropriate holes on opposing sides of a fracture line, and when the strain on said staple is thereafter released, compression will be provided across the fracture line by both said bridge and said first and second legs.