Business segment information (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	$ 20,565,000	$ 19,396,000	$ 42,996,000	$ (8,101,000)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions			1,364,000	46,000,000
Spine
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	21,029,000	22,292,000	42,594,000	5,866,000
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions			1,200,000	36,500,000
Arbitration resolution charges related to 2008 co-development agreement			3,100,000
Orthopedics
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	4,093,000	4,972,000	9,073,000	1,340,000
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions			200,000	6,500,000
Corporate
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	(4,557,000)	(7,868,000)	8,671,000	(15,307,000)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions				3,000,000
Senior management succession charges		$ 3,200,000		$ 3,200,000