In House M.D., what condition caused Gregory House's permanent leg pain and limp?

A muscle infarction caused Gregory House's permanent leg pain and limp in House M.D.

House suffered an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The blocked blood supply caused muscle tissue to die, producing severe chronic pain and leaving him with a permanent limp. The event occurred before the series begins and became a central part of House's backstory and dependence on pain medication.

In the show's history, House initially received a misdiagnosis and later underwent surgery after the infarction. He chose a procedure that preserved more of his leg muscle but left him with lasting disability. His cane, pain, and defensive personality became visual and narrative markers of the injury.

The condition is often casually described as a “leg injury,” but that wording misses the specific diagnosis. It was not a broken bone or a tendon tear. An infarction is tissue death caused by inadequate blood supply; in House's case, it affected muscle.