SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Revenue by Major Product Category) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 213,246	$ 210,084	$ 615,445	$ 616,439
Orthopedics
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	93,331	94,186	275,025	276,033
Neurosurgery
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	72,639	69,667	204,283	203,499
Instruments
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 47,276	$ 46,231	$ 136,137	$ 136,907

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration