Revenue Recognition - Disaggregated Sales Analysis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 4,701,000	$ 4,160,000	$ 4,294,000	$ 3,953,000	$ 4,262,000	$ 3,737,000	$ 2,764,000	$ 3,588,000	$ 17,108,000	$ 14,351,000	$ 14,884,000
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									12,321,000	10,455,000	10,957,000
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									4,787,000	3,896,000	3,927,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									9,538,000	8,345,000	8,475,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									7,026,000	6,218,000	6,470,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,512,000	2,127,000	2,005,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Instruments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,111,000	1,863,000	1,959,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Instruments | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,637,000	1,471,000	1,542,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Instruments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									474,000	392,000	417,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Endoscopy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,141,000	1,763,000	1,983,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Endoscopy | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,670,000	1,408,000	1,577,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Endoscopy | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									471,000	355,000	406,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Medical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,607,000	2,524,000	2,264,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Medical | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,007,000	1,910,000	1,787,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Medical | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									600,000	614,000	477,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Neurovascular
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,188,000	973,000	924,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Neurovascular | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									451,000	381,000	391,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Neurovascular | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									737,000	592,000	533,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Neuro Cranial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,214,000	972,000	1,059,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Neuro Cranial | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									988,000	801,000	890,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Neuro Cranial | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									226,000	171,000	169,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									277,000	250,000	286,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Other | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									273,000	247,000	283,000
MedSurg and Neurotechnology | Other | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									4,000	3,000	3,000
Orthopaedics and Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									7,570,000	6,006,000	6,409,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									5,295,000	4,237,000	4,487,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,275,000	1,769,000	1,922,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									549,000	464,000	415,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Other | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									425,000	387,000	334,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Other | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									124,000	77,000	81,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Knees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,848,000	1,567,000	1,815,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Knees | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,351,000	1,170,000	1,347,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Knees | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									497,000	397,000	468,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Hips
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,342,000	1,206,000	1,383,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Hips | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									822,000	777,000	882,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Hips | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									520,000	429,000	501,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Trauma and Extremities
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,664,000	1,722,000	1,639,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Trauma and Extremities | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,866,000	1,139,000	1,051,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Trauma and Extremities | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									798,000	583,000	588,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,167,000	1,047,000	1,157,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Spine | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									831,000	764,000	873,000
Orthopaedics and Spine | Spine | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 336,000	$ 283,000	$ 284,000