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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GrMEbqar7B2S91nKjv9kUQMAaYIybUrlY0uJkw3LyaCWUayOKtTmqCNSkjYLy+8J
 K+yTMTN8HQykfMXXw8jflQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213217-09-000001.txt : 20090211
<SEC-HEADER>0001213217-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090211132309
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213217-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORTHOFIX INTERNATIONAL N V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884624
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 ABRAHAM DE VEERSTRAAT
		STREET 2:		CURACAO
		CITY:			NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
		STATE:			P8
		ZIP:			00000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEIN THOMAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213217

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19961
		FILM NUMBER:		09588747

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		704-948-2635

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ORTHOFIX INC
		STREET 2:		10115 KINCEY AVE STE 250
		CITY:			HUNTERSVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28078
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884624</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ORTHOFIX INTERNATIONAL N V</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OFIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213217</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEIN THOMAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ORTHOFIX INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10115 KINCEY AVE STE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTERSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28078</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President of Finance</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>259</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.97</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan on 1/2/2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price per share was set at the beginning of the ESPP reporting period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Emily Buxton, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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