GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		$ 292,980
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2011	292,980
Foreign currency translation	(395)
Ending period, September 30, 2012	292,426
SeaSpine, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment	289
Ascension Orthopedics, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment	(448)
U.S. Neurosurgery
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		93,913
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2011	93,913
Foreign currency translation
Ending period, September 30, 2012	93,913
U.S. Neurosurgery | SeaSpine, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
U.S. Neurosurgery | Ascension Orthopedics, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
U.S. Instruments
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		57,270
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2011	57,270
Foreign currency translation
Ending period, September 30, 2012	57,270
U.S. Instruments | SeaSpine, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
U.S. Instruments | Ascension Orthopedics, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
U.S. Extremities
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		60,544
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2011	60,544
Foreign currency translation
Ending period, September 30, 2012	60,096
U.S. Extremities | SeaSpine, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
U.S. Extremities | Ascension Orthopedics, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment	(448)
U.S. Spine And Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		55,693
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2011	55,693
Foreign currency translation
Ending period, September 30, 2012	55,982
U.S. Spine And Other | SeaSpine, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment	289
U.S. Spine And Other | Ascension Orthopedics, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
International
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		25,560
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2011	25,560
Foreign currency translation	(395)
Ending period, September 30, 2012	25,165
International | SeaSpine, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment
International | Ascension Orthopedics, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital adjustment