SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Net Sales and Profit by Reportable Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Net Sales
Revenues	$ 255,664	$ 250,332	$ 249,309	$ 236,770	$ 241,160	$ 226,367	$ 212,673	$ 202,534	$ 992,075	$ 882,734	$ 796,717
Segment Profit
Operating income									115,340	79,587	67,857
Amortization									(13,862)	(9,953)	(6,810)
Operating Segments
Segment Profit
Operating income									360,481	330,323	295,403
Operating Segments | Specialty Surgical Solutions
Segment Net Sales
Revenues									632,524	586,918	554,872
Segment Profit
Operating income									256,629	242,479	210,146
Operating Segments | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Segment Net Sales
Revenues									359,551	295,816	241,845
Segment Profit
Operating income									103,852	87,844	85,257
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Profit
Amortization									(13,862)	(9,953)	(6,810)
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Profit
Operating income									$ (231,279)	$ (240,783)	$ (220,736)