SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Net Sales and Profit by Reportable Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Net Sales
Total revenues	$ 383,315	$ 365,854	$ 366,190	$ 357,082	$ 368,602	$ 278,834	$ 282,164	$ 258,636	$ 1,472,441	$ 1,188,236	$ 992,075
Segment Profit
Operating income									110,998	44,804	115,340
Amortization									(21,160)	(20,370)	(13,862)
Codman Specialty Surgical
Segment Net Sales
Total revenues									963,929	720,301	632,524
Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Segment Net Sales
Total revenues									508,512	467,935	359,551
Operating Segments
Segment Profit
Operating income									512,846	422,668	360,481
Operating Segments | Codman Specialty Surgical
Segment Profit
Operating income									363,336	292,971	256,629
Operating Segments | Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies
Segment Profit
Operating income									149,510	129,697	103,852
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Profit
Amortization									(21,160)	(20,370)	(13,862)
Corporate and other
Segment Profit
Operating income									$ (380,688)	$ (357,494)	$ (231,279)