A surgical instrument , comprising: (a) a shaft extending longitudinally and having a distal end portion ; and (b) a tissue fastener releasably attached to the distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the shaft is operable to rotatably drive the tissue fastener about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the tissue fastener includes: (i) a base , (ii) a first arm extending laterally and longitudinally from the base, wherein the first arm is configured to be received within a first tissue portion, (iii) a second arm extending laterally and longitudinally from the base, wherein the second arm is configured to be received within a second tissue portion, wherein the first and second arms are configured to respectively draw the first tissue portion against the second tissue portion in response to rotation of the shaft about the longitudinal axis, and (iv) a plurality of barbs extending from the first and second arms, wherein the barbs are configured to anchor the first and second arms respectively within the first and second tissue portions, wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is configured to release the tissue fastener thereby securing the first tissue portion against the second tissue portion with the tissue fastener anchored therein, and wherein the first and second arms extend from the base along respective helical paths, lie in varying dimensional planes, and are configured to coil around the distal end portion. (a) a shaft extending longitudinally and having a distal end portion ; and (b) a tissue fastener releasably attached to the distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the shaft is operable to rotatably drive the tissue fastener about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the tissue fastener includes: (i) a base , (ii) a first arm extending laterally and longitudinally from the base, wherein the first arm is configured to be received within a first tissue portion, (iii) a second arm extending laterally and longitudinally from the base, wherein the second arm is configured to be received within a second tissue portion, wherein the first and second arms are configured to respectively draw the first tissue portion against the second tissue portion in response to rotation of the shaft about the longitudinal axis, and (iv) a plurality of barbs extending from the first and second arms, wherein the barbs are configured to anchor the first and second arms respectively within the first and second tissue portions, wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is configured to release the tissue fastener thereby securing the first tissue portion against the second tissue portion with the tissue fastener anchored therein, and wherein the first and second arms extend from the base along respective helical paths, lie in varying dimensional planes, and are configured to coil around the distal end portion. (i) a base , (ii) a first arm extending laterally and longitudinally from the base, wherein the first arm is configured to be received within a first tissue portion, (iii) a second arm extending laterally and longitudinally from the base, wherein the second arm is configured to be received within a second tissue portion, wherein the first and second arms are configured to respectively draw the first tissue portion against the second tissue portion in response to rotation of the shaft about the longitudinal axis, and (iv) a plurality of barbs extending from the first and second arms, wherein the barbs are configured to anchor the first and second arms respectively within the first and second tissue portions, wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is configured to release the tissue fastener thereby securing the first tissue portion against the second tissue portion with the tissue fastener anchored therein, and wherein the first and second arms extend from the base along respective helical paths, lie in varying dimensional planes, and are configured to coil around the distal end portion. <EOS>