Rejuvenate / ABG II Hip Recall Charges

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- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Costs incurred to effect a business combination which have been expensed during the period. Such costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

The amount of expense provided in the period for legal costs incurred on or before the balance sheet date pertaining to resolved, pending or threatened litigation, including arbitration and mediation proceedings.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount, after cash payment, of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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Segment and Geographic Data (Sales And Other Financial Information By Business Segment) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of Reportable Segments \| segment									3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,471	$ 3,006	$ 3,012	$ 2,955	$ 3,157	$ 2,833	$ 2,840	$ 2,495	$ 12,444	$ 11,325	$ 9,946
Depreciation and amortization									859	752	590
Segment net earnings (loss)									2,290	2,166	1,861
Amortization of intangible assets									(371)	(319)	(210)
Net earnings	$ (249)	$ 434	$ 391	$ 444	$ 510	$ 355	$ 380	$ 402	1,020	1,647	1,439
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									794	706	539
Segment operating income									3,533	3,239	2,783
Operating Segments \| Orthopaedics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									4,713	4,422	4,223
Depreciation and amortization									337	317	290
Segment net earnings (loss)									1,669	1,597	1,487
Operating Segments \| MedSurg
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									5,557	4,894	3,895
Depreciation and amortization									315	249	117
Segment net earnings (loss)									1,225	1,085	822
Operating Segments \| Neuro and Spine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,174	2,009	1,828
Depreciation and amortization									142	140	132
Segment net earnings (loss)									639	557	474
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									65	46	51
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment operating income									(402)	(352)	(302)
Acquisition & integration-related charges									(64)	(131)	(35)
Amortization of intangible assets									(371)	(319)	(210)
Restructuring related-charges									(194)	(125)	(132)
Rejuvenate and related-charges									(173)	(158)	(296)
Regulatory and legal matters									(39)	12	53
Net earnings									$ 2,290	$ 2,166	$ 1,861