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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 H4QuFkOOygdYRQrfo5Js1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001307883-04-000003.txt : 20041206
<SEC-HEADER>0001307883-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20041206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041206160916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001307883-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041206
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041206

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:			Von Wartburg Walter P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001307883

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19961
		FILM NUMBER:		041186423

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		41613738860

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GELLERTSTRASSE 19
		CITY:			BASEL
		STATE:			V8
		ZIP:			4020
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001307883</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Von Wartburg Walter P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GELLERTSTRASSE 19</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BASEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>V8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>4020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SWITZERLAND</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Four thousand (4,000) shares underlying the option will vest on each of the first (12/02/2005), second (12/02/2006) and third (12/02/2007) anniversaries of the date of grant and six thousand (6,000) shares underlying the option will vest on each of the fourth (12/02/2008) and fifth (12/02/2009) anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/Brian McCollum, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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