GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		$ 294,067
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2012	294,067
Foreign currency translation	(1,905)
Ending period, March 31, 2013	292,278
Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	116
U.S. Neurosurgery
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		94,312
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2012	94,312
Foreign currency translation	(611)
Ending period, March 31, 2013	93,701
U.S. Neurosurgery | Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	0
U.S. Instruments
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		57,514
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2012	57,514
Foreign currency translation	(373)
Ending period, March 31, 2013	57,141
U.S. Instruments | Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	0
U.S. Extremities
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		60,353
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2012	60,353
Foreign currency translation	(391)
Ending period, March 31, 2013	60,078
U.S. Extremities | Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	116
U.S. Spine And Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		56,219
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2012	56,219
Foreign currency translation	(364)
Ending period, March 31, 2013	55,855
U.S. Spine And Other | Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	0
International
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		25,669
Accumulated impairment losses
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning period, December 31, 2012	25,669
Foreign currency translation	(166)
Ending period, March 31, 2013	25,503
International | Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	$ 0