Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]
Inventory	$ 2,420	$ 3,769
Net operating losses	11,091	34,669
Capitalized research and development	8,557	6,257
Deferred compensation	1,749	2,544
Accounts receivable	1,855	3,186
Compensation and benefits	4,138	6,645
Accrued pension	2,695	4,530
Research and development credit	8,957	8,164
Other	9,342	2,001
Foreign tax credit	0	1,112
Less: valuation allowances	(570)	(441)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	50,234	72,436
Components of Deferred Tax Liabilities [Abstract]
Goodwill and intangible assets	102,099	168,509
Depreciation	3,333	9,099
State taxes	11,709	10,123
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings	6,000	0
Contingent interest	40	136
Deferred tax liabilities	123,181	187,867
Net liability	$ (72,947)	$ (115,431)

Deferred Tax Assets, Capitalized Research and Development

No definition available.

Name:	cnmd_DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalizedResearchAndDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	cnmd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from estimated losses reflected in the sales returns, rebates and allowances and allowance for doubtful accounts, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual return occurs, rebates occur, allowances are granted and bad debts are known, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

+ References

No definition available.