A suture passer (5, 205, 205A) with a suture, the suture passer comprising: a hollow tube (10, 210, 210A), said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) comprising a distal end (20, 220), a proximal end (25, 230), and a lumen (30, 240) extending from said distal end (20, 220) to said proximal end (25, 230); and a suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) slidably received in said lumen (30, 240) of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and selectively projectable out said distal end (20, 220) of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A), said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) comprising a distal end (50, 265) and a proximal end (55, 270), wherein said distal end (50, 265) of said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) comprises a hook (47, 285, 285A) comprising a proximally oriented hooking surface and a return extending proximally of said hooking surface; wherein said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) are sized so that said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) may capture the suture disposed adjacent to said distal end (20, 220) of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and draw the suture into a gap between an inner surface of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and the distal end of the suture manipulation rod, wherein the gap is sized so that the suture is compressed when the suture is disposed in the gap between the inner surface of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and the distal end of the suture manipulation rod, and said hook (47, 285, 285A) is configured to releasably bind the suture to said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A), and characterized in that after the suture has been drawn into said gap, distal movement of said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) causes the suture to be carried distally with the hooking surface to be expelled from said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A). a hollow tube (10, 210, 210A), said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) comprising a distal end (20, 220), a proximal end (25, 230), and a lumen (30, 240) extending from said distal end (20, 220) to said proximal end (25, 230); and a suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) slidably received in said lumen (30, 240) of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and selectively projectable out said distal end (20, 220) of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A), said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) comprising a distal end (50, 265) and a proximal end (55, 270), wherein said distal end (50, 265) of said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) comprises a hook (47, 285, 285A) comprising a proximally oriented hooking surface and a return extending proximally of said hooking surface; wherein said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) are sized so that said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) may capture the suture disposed adjacent to said distal end (20, 220) of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and draw the suture into a gap between an inner surface of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and the distal end of the suture manipulation rod, wherein the gap is sized so that the suture is compressed when the suture is disposed in the gap between the inner surface of said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A) and the distal end of the suture manipulation rod, and said hook (47, 285, 285A) is configured to releasably bind the suture to said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A), and characterized in that after the suture has been drawn into said gap, distal movement of said suture manipulation rod (15, 215, 215A) causes the suture to be carried distally with the hooking surface to be expelled from said hollow tube (10, 210, 210A).