GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill at December 31, 2014	$ 363,888
Balance, June 30, 2015	357,022
Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		$ 81,650
Accumulated impairment losses		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill at December 31, 2014	81,650
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Foreign currency translation	(1,441)
Balance, June 30, 2015	80,472
Spine
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		409
Accumulated impairment losses		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill at December 31, 2014	409
Goodwill impairment charge	(409)
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance, June 30, 2015	0
U.S. Spine And Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		363,888
Accumulated impairment losses		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill at December 31, 2014	363,888
Goodwill impairment charge	(409)
Foreign currency translation	(5,892)
Balance, June 30, 2015	357,022
Specialty Surgical Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross		281,829
Accumulated impairment losses		$ 0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill at December 31, 2014	281,829
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Foreign currency translation	(4,451)
Balance, June 30, 2015	276,550
Medtronic MicroFrance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, June 30, 2015	16,607
Medtronic MicroFrance | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	0
Medtronic MicroFrance | Spine
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	0
Medtronic MicroFrance | U.S. Spine And Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	(828)
Medtronic MicroFrance | Specialty Surgical Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	(828)
Metasurg
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, June 30, 2015	732
Metasurg | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	263
Metasurg | Spine
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	0
Metasurg | U.S. Spine And Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	263
Metasurg | Specialty Surgical Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Working capital and purchase price adjustment	$ 0