SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Net Sales and Profit by Reportable Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Net Sales
Revenues	$ 368,602	$ 278,834	$ 282,164	$ 258,636	$ 255,664	$ 250,332	$ 249,309	$ 236,770	$ 1,188,236	$ 992,075	$ 882,734
Segment Profit
Operating income									44,804	115,340	79,587
Amortization									(20,370)	(13,862)	(9,953)
Codman Specialty Surgical
Segment Net Sales
Revenues									720,301	632,524	586,918
Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Segment Net Sales
Revenues									467,935	359,551	295,816
Operating Segments
Segment Profit
Operating income									422,668	360,481	330,323
Operating Segments | Codman Specialty Surgical
Segment Profit
Operating income									292,971	256,629	242,479
Operating Segments | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Segment Profit
Operating income									129,697	103,852	87,844
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Profit
Amortization									(20,370)	(13,862)	(9,953)
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Profit
Operating income									$ (357,494)	$ (231,279)	$ (240,783)