Revenue Recognition - Disaggregated Sales Analysis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,516	$ 3,241
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,579	2,314
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	937	927
Orthopaedics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,250	1,216
Orthopaedics | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	850	814
Orthopaedics | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	400	402
Orthopaedics | Knees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	439	419
Orthopaedics | Knees | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	320	301
Orthopaedics | Knees | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	119	118
Orthopaedics | Hips
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	336	331
Orthopaedics | Hips | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	213	205
Orthopaedics | Hips | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	123	126
Orthopaedics | Trauma and Extremities
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	396	389
Orthopaedics | Trauma and Extremities | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	254	245
Orthopaedics | Trauma and Extremities | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	142	144
Orthopaedics | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	79	77
Orthopaedics | Other | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	63	63
Orthopaedics | Other | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	16	14
MedSurg
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,544	1,427
MedSurg | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,237	1,106
MedSurg | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	307	321
MedSurg | Instruments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	478	412
MedSurg | Instruments | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	381	316
MedSurg | Instruments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	97	96
MedSurg | Endoscopy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	470	444
MedSurg | Endoscopy | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	376	349
MedSurg | Endoscopy | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	94	95
MedSurg | Medical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	531	511
MedSurg | Medical | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	416	381
MedSurg | Medical | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	115	130
MedSurg | Sustainability
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	65	60
MedSurg | Sustainability | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	64	60
MedSurg | Sustainability | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1	0
Neurotechnology and Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	722	598
Neurotechnology and Spine | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	492	394
Neurotechnology and Spine | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	230	204
Neurotechnology and Spine | Neurotechnology
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	465	410
Neurotechnology and Spine | Neurotechnology | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	297	256
Neurotechnology and Spine | Neurotechnology | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	168	154
Neurotechnology and Spine | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	257	188
Neurotechnology and Spine | Spine | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	195	138
Neurotechnology and Spine | Spine | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 62	$ 50