A system and surgical methods for repairing tears in meniscal tissue using meniscal darts. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a cannulated insertion sheath, a meniscal dart, and a disposable dart driver preloaded with a meniscal dart at its distal end. The insertion sheath is located near a meniscal tear, and sharp prongs on the tip of the sheath are used to secure and position the central fragment of the torn meniscus. The dart driver with a preloaded dart is advanced through the cannulation of the insertion sheath such that the preloaded meniscal dart at the distal end of the driver is inserted through the meniscal tear.