-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213559-06-000002.txt : 20060310
<SEC-HEADER>0001213559-06-000002.hdr.sgml : 20060310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060310171240
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213559-06-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060310

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:			GAINES COOPER ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213559
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			P8

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19961
		FILM NUMBER:		06680154

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ORTHOFIX INC
		STREET 2:		7 ABRAM DE VEERATRAST
		CITY:			NETHERLANDS ANTILLEA
		STATE:			P8
		ZIP:			9999999999
		BUSINESS PHONE:		599 9 465 8525

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAINES COOPER ROBERT</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.5345</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>430000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Venner Capital S.A.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>693000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>The Bird Island Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>432700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on March 7, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purposes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/Brian McCollum, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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