Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Annual Lease Payments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Capital Lease Obligations And Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating leases 2013	$ 3,684
Operating leases 2014	2,735
Operating leases 2015	2,432
Operating leases 2016	1,286
Operating leases 2017	180
Operating leases Thereafter	271
Operating leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total	10,588
Capital leases 2013	558
Capital leases 2014	527
Capital leases 2015	466
Capital leases 2016	423
Capital leases 2017	82
Capital leases Thereafter
Total Capital leases	2,056
Less: amount representing interest	(286)
Present value of minimum lease payments	1,770
Current portion of capital leases	437
Capital leases, less current portion	$ 1,333

Name:	atec_CapitalLeaseObligationsAndOperatingLeaseLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	atec_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.