Segment Data - Summary of Net Sales and Other Information by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 2,013.1	$ 1,832.8	$ 1,934.0	$ 1,904.0	$ 1,933.6	$ 1,762.2	$ 1,167.6	$ 1,134.4	$ 7,683.9	$ 5,997.8	$ 4,673.3
Depreciation and amortization									1,039.3	712.4	375.8
Operating profit									825.9	467.3	1,037.3
Intangible asset amortization									(565.9)	(337.4)	(92.5)
Certain claims										(7.7)	(21.5)
Special items									(611.8)	(831.8)	(341.1)
Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									2,472.7	1,993.0	1,528.7
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									3,947.6	3,109.4	2,320.2
Depreciation and amortization									135.6	110.0	70.5
Operating profit									2,134.4	1,633.5	1,215.4
Operating Segments [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,566.1	1,302.9	1,189.1
Depreciation and amortization									70.7	62.4	48.8
Operating profit									503.3	449.0	407.8
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,092.2	881.6	789.2
Depreciation and amortization									51.6	37.9	30.2
Operating profit									440.8	422.2	371.0
Operating Segments [Member] | Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,078.0	703.9	374.8
Depreciation and amortization									34.7	21.0	7.5
Operating profit									249.1	162.2	76.4
Global Operations and Corporate Functions [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									746.7	481.1	218.8
Operating profit									(854.9)	(673.9)	(541.9)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Inventory step-up and certain other inventory and manufacturing related charges									(469.1)	(348.8)	(36.3)
Intangible asset amortization									(565.9)	(337.4)	(92.5)
Certain claims										(7.7)	(21.5)
Special items									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other special items									(124.5)	(212.7)	(279.2)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Biomet merger related									$ (487.3)	$ (619.1)	$ (61.9)