Commitments (Details Textual) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments (Textual) [Abstract]
Restricted cash for security deposit	$ 1.5
Total minimum future lease payments	7.5
Licensing and Purchasing Agreements [Member]
Commitments (Textual) [Abstract]
Obligation under consultancy arrangements	$ 23.4
Revenue based milestone period	achieved prior to 2024
Executive Severance Plans [Member]
Commitments (Textual) [Abstract]
Other commitments, future minimum payments, remainder of fiscal year	$ 22.3

Commitments.

No definition available.

Name:	nuva_CommitmentsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nuva_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of minimum lease payments for capital leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of other commitments maturing in the remainder of the fiscal year following the latest fiscal year ended.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PurchaseObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A description of each milestone and related contingent consideration as well as a description of whether or not each milestone(s) is considered substantive.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 605
-SubTopic 28
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b,c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51671726&loc=SL6892177-166501

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodMilestone
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents money paid in advance to protect the provider of a product or service, such as a lessor, against damage or nonpayment by the buyer or tenant (lessee) during the term of the agreement. Such damages may include physical damage to the property, theft of property, and other contractual breaches. Security deposits held may be interest or noninterest bearing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecurityDepositLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=nuva_LicensingAndPurchasingAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=nuva_ExecutiveSeverancePlansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: