Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 11,016.9	$ 10,307.2
Accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	(373.0)	(373.0)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	10,643.9	9,934.2
Purchase accounting adjustments	(6.1)	340.0
Currency translation	310.8	(67.0)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	11,346.1	11,016.9
Accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	(677.7)	(373.0)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	10,668.4	10,643.9
Impairment	(304.7)
LDR Holding Corporation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments	24.5	482.4
Biomet [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments		(45.7)
Americas [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	7,634.5	7,328.0
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	7,634.5	7,328.0
Purchase accounting adjustments	(0.5)	284.8
Currency translation	90.8	(10.2)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	7,724.8	7,634.5
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	7,724.8	7,634.5
Americas [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments		31.9
EMEA [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	1,263.7	1,291.0
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	1,263.7	1,291.0
Purchase accounting adjustments	(33.2)	34.3
Currency translation	149.3	(53.6)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,379.8	1,263.7
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	1,379.8	1,263.7
EMEA [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments		(8.0)
Asia Pacific [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	487.3	548.9
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	487.3	548.9
Currency translation	13.2	(0.3)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	500.5	487.3
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	500.5	487.3
Asia Pacific [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments		(61.3)
Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	1,631.4	1,139.3
Accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	(373.0)	(373.0)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Beginning Balance	1,258.4	766.3
Purchase accounting adjustments	27.6	20.9
Currency translation	57.5	(2.9)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,741.0	1,631.4
Accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	(677.7)	(373.0)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses, Ending Balance	1,063.3	1,258.4
Impairment	(304.7)
Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member] | LDR Holding Corporation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments	$ 24.5	482.4
Immaterial Product Category Operating Segments [Member] | Biomet [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments		$ (8.3)