Business segment information (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	$ 22,044,000	$ (26,061,000)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions		46,000,000
Research and development	7,745,000	6,052,000
Spine
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	21,564,000	(16,426,000)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions		36,500,000
Legal costs		3,300,000
Spine | Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation Partnership
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Research and development	800,000
Orthopedics
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	4,979,000	(3,632,000)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions		6,500,000
Legal costs		1,100,000
Orthopedics | Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation Partnership
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Research and development	200,000
Sports Medicine
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	(10,000)	1,445,000
Legal costs	300,000
Litigation and settlement costs	1,800,000
Corporate
Business segment information - operating income (loss)
Operating Income (Loss) by GBU	(4,489,000)	(7,448,000)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions		$ 3,000,000