SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Item	Mar. 31, 2012
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of operating segments	1
Number of reportable segments	1
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	$ 87,478	$ 88,375
Americas
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	59,113	61,394
International
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	28,365	26,981
Sports Medicine
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	59,616	59,310
Sports Medicine | Americas
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	38,862	39,028
Sports Medicine | International
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	20,754	20,282
ENT
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	25,616	27,170
ENT | Americas
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	19,748	21,776
ENT | International
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	5,868	5,394
Other
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	2,246	1,895
Other | Americas
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	503	590
Other | International
Product sales by operating segment and product area
Product sales	$ 1,743	$ 1,305