Segment Data - Summary of Net Sales and Other Information by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 1,933.6	$ 1,762.2	$ 1,167.6	$ 1,134.4	$ 1,222.9	$ 1,106.0	$ 1,182.9	$ 1,161.5	$ 5,997.8	$ 4,673.3	$ 4,623.4
Depreciation and amortization									712.4	375.8	358.5
Operating profit									467.3	1,037.3	1,068.6
Total Assets	27,219.5				9,658.0				27,219.5	9,658.0	9,595.0
Additions to instruments									266.4	197.4	192.9
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									167.7	144.9	100.0
Intangible asset amortization									(337.4)	(92.5)	(78.5)
Certain claims									(7.7)	(21.5)	(47.0)
Special items									831.8	341.1	210.3
Biomet [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,602.0
Operating profit									(295.8)
Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									1,993.0	1,528.7	1,493.1
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									3,109.4	2,320.2	2,347.6
Depreciation and amortization									110.0	70.5	62.6
Operating profit									1,647.0	1,215.4	1,293.5
Total Assets	1,525.0				1,012.0				1,525.0	1,012.0	947.9
Additions to instruments									1.6	0.2	0.2
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									21.7	8.6	8.7
Operating Segments [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,302.9	1,189.1	1,134.0
Depreciation and amortization									61.1	46.0	48.2
Operating profit									445.3	435.6	401.2
Total Assets	1,382.2				924.0				1,382.2	924.0	974.5
Additions to instruments									0.2	0.1	0.3
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									3.4	2.1	1.2
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									881.6	789.2	771.9
Depreciation and amortization									37.9	30.2	30.0
Operating profit									421.9	371.0	335.6
Total Assets	642.4				380.3				642.4	380.3	375.9
Additions to instruments									4.7	6.0	6.5
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									9.0	9.1	7.6
Operating Segments [Member] | Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									703.9	374.8	369.9
Depreciation and amortization									21.0	7.5	7.7
Operating profit									167.9	76.5	79.9
Total Assets	788.3				295.1				788.3	295.1	322.9
Additions to instruments									22.8	16.3	14.9
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									4.6	2.6	4.6
Global Operations and Corporate Functions [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									482.4	221.6	210.0
Operating profit									(689.1)	(569.8)	(617.1)
Total Assets	$ 22,881.6				$ 7,046.6				22,881.6	7,046.6	6,973.8
Additions to instruments									237.1	174.8	171.0
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									129.0	122.5	77.9
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Inventory step-up and certain other inventory and manufacturing related charges									(348.8)	(36.3)	(88.7)
Intangible asset amortization									(337.4)	(92.5)	(78.5)
Certain claims									(7.7)	(21.5)	(47.0)
Special items									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other special items									(212.7)	(279.2)	$ (210.3)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Biomet merger related									$ (619.1)	$ (61.9)