Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 962,072	$ 811,113	$ 762,415
Cost of goods sold (excluding below amortization of intangible assets)	240,093	194,479	182,358
Gross profit	721,979	616,634	580,057
Operating expenses:
Sales, marketing and administrative	533,624	457,280	456,700
Research and development	47,999	35,833	37,486
Amortization of intangible assets	42,001	12,516	13,571
Impairment of intangible assets			10,708
Litigation liability (gain) loss	(43,310)	(41,826)	30,000
Business transition costs	18,138	13,748	13,448
Total operating expenses	598,452	477,551	561,913
Interest and other expense, net:
Interest income	1,091	1,589	968
Interest expense	(40,520)	(29,078)	(27,911)
Loss on repurchases of convertible notes	(19,085)
Other (expense) income, net	(305)	425	(2,411)
Total interest and other expense, net	(58,819)	(27,064)	(29,354)
Income (loss) before income taxes	64,708	112,019	(11,210)
Income tax expense	(29,282)	(46,729)	(6,286)
Consolidated net income (loss)	35,426	65,290	(17,496)
Add back net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,721)	(1,001)	(776)
Net income (loss) attributable to NuVasive, Inc.	$ 37,147	$ 66,291	$ (16,720)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to NuVasive, Inc.:
Basic	$ 0.74	$ 1.36	$ (0.36)
Diluted	$ 0.69	$ 1.26	$ (0.36)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	50,077	48,687	46,715
Diluted	54,102	52,424	46,715