Abstract: A wound closure system (10) for closing a wound on a patient comprises an elongated flexible backing strip (12) having a length and width sufficient to secure facing edges of the wound in close juxtaposition to one another, the backing strip comprising a first portion disposed between the ends and adapted to overlie the facing edges of the wound, and second and third portions disposed on either side of the first portion and each provided with a predetermined number of spaced-apart apertures extending through the backing strip from one surface thereof to the other; and a first pressure-sensitive adhesive (18) coated on at least part of the first surface of the backing strip (12) including the second and third portions thereof, to adhere the backing strip to the patient with the facing edges of the wound being in close juxtaposition.