ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURE AND PRO FORMA RESULTS (Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other current assets	$ 2,036
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	937,905	$ 510,571	$ 512,389
Codman
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	77,921
Assets held for sale	30,813
Property, plant and equipment	35,949
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	346,219
Total assets acquired	1,035,738
Accrued expenses	1,730
Pension liabilities	19,917
Net assets acquired	1,014,091
Codman | Completed technology
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 379,900
Wtd. Avg. Life	22 years
Codman | Trade name
Intangible assets:
Codman corporate trade name	$ 162,900
TGX Medical
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	49
Accounts receivables	279
Property, plant and equipment	3
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	641
Total assets acquired	5,679
Accounts payable	13
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	65
Other liabilities	234
Net assets acquired	5,367
TGX Medical | Completed technology
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 4,707
Wtd. Avg. Life	13 years
Derma Sciences
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 16,512
Short-term investments	19,238
Accounts receivables	8,949
Inventory	17,977
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,369
Property, plant and equipment	4,311
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	73,765
Deferred tax assets	14,524
Other assets	101
Total assets acquired	263,426
Accounts payable	4,560
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	7,409
Contingent liability	37,174
Other liabilities	3,805
Net assets acquired	210,478
Derma Sciences | Completed technology
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 11,600
Wtd. Avg. Life	14 years
Derma Sciences | Customer relationship
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 78,300
Wtd. Avg. Life	14 years
Derma Sciences | Trademarks/brand names
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 13,500
Wtd. Avg. Life	15 years
Derma Sciences | Non-compete agreement
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 280
Wtd. Avg. Life	1 year
Tekmed
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 1,143
Other current assets	11
Property, plant and equipment	669
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	9,665
Total assets acquired	16,469
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	802
Deferred tax liability	1,564
Net assets acquired	14,103
Tekmed | Supplier Contracts
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 4,981
Tekmed | Minimum | Supplier Contracts
Intangible assets:
Wtd. Avg. Life	2 years
Tekmed | Maximum | Supplier Contracts
Intangible assets:
Wtd. Avg. Life	13 years
Salto and Futura
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 2,688
Property, plant and equipment	1,453
Intangible assets:
Total assets acquired	7,811
Deferred tax liability	700
Net assets acquired	7,111
Salto and Futura | Ankle product family
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 3,210
Wtd. Avg. Life	11 years
Salto and Futura | Toe product family
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 460
Wtd. Avg. Life	10 years
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,241
Accounts receivables	9,011
Inventory	23,223
Other current assets	2,670
Property, plant and equipment	2,027
Income tax receivable	5,135
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	147,704
Total assets acquired	409,825
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	9,732
Deferred tax liability	87,908
Net assets acquired	312,185
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Developed Technology
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	167,400
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Contractual Relationships
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	51,345
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Leasehold interest
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	$ 69
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Minimum | Developed Technology
Intangible assets:
Wtd. Avg. Life	14 years
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Minimum | Contractual Relationships
Intangible assets:
Wtd. Avg. Life	11 years
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Maximum | Developed Technology
Intangible assets:
Wtd. Avg. Life	16 years
TEI Biosciences Inc and TEI Medical Inc. | Maximum | Contractual Relationships
Intangible assets:
Wtd. Avg. Life	14 years