Segment Data - Summary of Net Sales and Other Information by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 2,074.3	$ 1,818.1	$ 1,954.4	$ 1,977.3	$ 2,013.1	$ 1,832.8	$ 1,934.0	$ 1,904.0	$ 7,824.1	$ 7,683.9	$ 5,997.8
Depreciation and amortization									1,062.7	1,039.3	712.4
Operating profit									808.2	825.9	467.3
Intangible asset amortization									(603.9)	(565.9)	(337.4)
Goodwill impairment									(304.7)
Special items									(633.1)	(611.8)	(839.5)
Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment									(304.7)
Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									2,434.5	2,472.7	1,993.0
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									3,951.1	3,947.1	3,107.8
Depreciation and amortization									127.5	135.4	109.9
Operating profit									2,126.8	2,132.7	1,633.6
Operating Segments [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,522.1	1,508.9	1,250.7
Depreciation and amortization									68.5	68.8	41.1
Operating profit									481.7	482.4	423.6
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,158.3	1,095.6	881.6
Depreciation and amortization									58.2	51.7	37.9
Operating profit									420.8	432.1	422.2
Operating Segments [Member] | Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,192.6	1,132.3	757.7
Depreciation and amortization									45.6	37.8	24.6
Operating profit									272.9	264.5	179.2
Global Operations and Corporate Functions [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									762.9	745.6	498.9
Operating profit									(867.7)	(839.0)	(665.6)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Inventory step-up and certain other inventory and manufacturing related charges									(84.6)	(469.1)	(348.8)
Intangible asset amortization									(603.9)	(565.9)	(337.4)
Goodwill impairment									(304.7)
Special items									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other special items									(385.1)	(124.5)	(220.4)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Biomet merger related									$ (248.0)	$ (487.3)	$ (619.1)