GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) reporting_unit	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit	3
Reporting unit, discount rate percentage	9.00%
Goodwill, impairment	$ 0
Impairment charge			$ 4,941,000	$ 3,290,000	$ 0
Amortization			71,600,000	52,800,000	41,500,000
Expected annual amortization expense, 2019			66,200,000
Expected annual amortization expense, 2020			65,900,000
Expected annual amortization expense, 2021			64,800,000
Expected annual amortization expense, 2022			61,300,000
Expected annual amortization expense, 2023			60,400,000
Expected annual amortization expense, thereafter			596,600,000
IPR&D
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite life			0	0
Technology
Goodwill [Line Items]
Amortization of product technology			50,400,000	$ 35,700,000	$ 27,600,000
Codman
Goodwill [Line Items]
Intangible assets, indefinite life, discount rate percentage	13.00%
Codman | Trade name
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite life	$ 0
Metasurg | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge	$ 4,900,000
Impairment charge, out of period adjustment included in original impairment			$ 2,500,000
Tarsus | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge		$ 3,300,000