In House M.D., what event caused Gregory House’s permanent limp?

A quadriceps muscle infarction caused Gregory House’s permanent limp in House M.D.

The infarction is a loss of blood supply that kills muscle tissue. In House’s case, the damage affects the quadriceps of his right thigh. He eventually undergoes surgery that removes dead tissue, leaving him with lasting pain and impaired movement.

The series reveals the history through flashbacks and conversations rather than explaining it fully in the opening episode. House’s limp and cane are therefore both visible character markers and clues to his chronic pain.

The injury is sometimes misremembered as a conventional leg fracture or knee injury. It is neither: the key event is ischemic muscle damage. Vicodin use, hostility, and reluctance to discuss vulnerability are all linked to the aftermath of this medical crisis.