The aggregate amount of recurring noncash expense charged against earnings in the period to allocate the cost of assets over their estimated remaining economic lives.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross carrying amount before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date for the rights acquired through registration of a trademark to gain or protect exclusive use of a business name, symbol or other device or style for a specified period of time.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedTrademarksGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=atec_CoreTechnologyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=atec_DevelopedProductTechnologyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=atec_DistributionNetworkMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=atec_PhysicianEducationProgramsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ContractualRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DistributionRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_IntellectualPropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Select Balance Sheet Details - Intangible Assets, Net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization	$ 1,400,000us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization	$ 1,600,000us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization
Intangible assets, Gross	74,631,000		78,001,000
Less accumulated amortization	(47,517,000)		(47,742,000)
Intangible assets, net	27,114,000		30,259,000
Developed product technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross	21,606,000		22,526,000
Developed product technology [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	3 years
Developed product technology [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	8 years
Distribution rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	3 years
Intangible assets, Gross	2,114,000		2,095,000
Intellectual property [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	5 years
Intangible assets, Gross	1,004,000		1,004,000
License agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross	16,716,000		16,716,000
License agreements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	1 year
License agreements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	7 years
Core technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	10 years
Intangible assets, Gross	4,069,000		4,554,000
Trademarks and trade names [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross	3,258,000		3,559,000
Trademarks and trade names [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	3 years
Trademarks and trade names [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	9 years
Customer-related [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross	19,107,000		20,493,000
Customer-related [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	12 years
Customer-related [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	15 years
Distribution network [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross	4,027,000		4,027,000
Distribution network [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	10 years
Distribution network [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	12 years
Physician education programs [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	10 years
Intangible assets, Gross	2,505,000		2,802,000
Supply Agreement [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful lives	10 years
Intangible assets, Gross	$ 225,000		$ 225,000