Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 27, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CONMED CORP
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000816956
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,918,777
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3