BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURE - Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 02, 2017	Feb. 24, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other current assets	$ 7,777
Intangible assets:
Goodwill			$ 944,495	$ 937,905
Codman
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	74,962
Assets held for sale	30,813
Property, plant and equipment	35,949
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	343,437
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, definite-lived	$ 379,900
Weighted Average Life	22 years
Codman | Trade Names
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets, indefinite-lived	$ 162,900
Derma Sciences
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 16,512
Short-term investments		19,238
Accounts receivable		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	$ 14,500
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 | Customer relationship
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets, definite-lived		$ 78,300
Weighted Average Life		14 years
Derma Sciences | Trademarks/brand names
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets, definite-lived		$ 13,500
Weighted Average Life		15 years
Derma Sciences | Completed technology
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets, definite-lived		$ 11,600
Weighted Average Life		14 years
Derma Sciences | Non-compete agreement
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets, definite-lived		$ 280
Weighted Average Life		1 year