GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Additional Information) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Technology	Jul. 31, 2012 U.S. Spine	Jan. 02, 2012 U.S. Spine
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Number of operating segments		8
Number of operating segments, subject to qualitative goodwill assessment	7
Goodwill, gross			$ 292,980,000			$ 31,700,000
Goodwill warning - percentage by which fair value exceeds carrying value					13.00%
Impairment charges				100,000
Annual amortization expense expected to approximate in 2012	25,100,000	25,100,000
Annual amortization expense expected to approximate in 2013	19,000,000	19,000,000
Annual amortization expense expected to approximate in 2014	18,100,000	18,100,000
Annual amortization expense expected to approximate in 2015	16,300,000	16,300,000
Annual amortization expense expected to approximate in 2016	$ 14,000,000	$ 14,000,000