Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Oct. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	OFIX
Entity Registrant Name	ORTHOFIX INTERNATIONAL N V
Entity Central Index Key	0000884624
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,889,815