Date when the business acquisition agreement was executed, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionDateOfAcquisitionAgreement1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=nuva_MedtronicLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=nuva_BiotronicNeuroNetworkMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Subsequent Events (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions				3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jul. 13, 2016	Jun. 06, 2016	Apr. 25, 2013	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Medtronic Litigation [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loss contingency, settlement agreement, consideration			$ 7.5	$ 45.0	$ 45.0
Biotronic NeuroNetwork [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business acquisition, date of agreement		Jun. 06, 2016
Cash payment on purchase of outstanding shares		$ 98.0
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Medtronic Litigation [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loss contingency, settlement agreement, consideration	$ 45.0