In House M.D., what injury caused Gregory House’s distinctive limp?

Gregory House’s distinctive limp was caused by a muscle infarction in his thigh. The infarction damaged muscle tissue in his leg and led to chronic pain and impaired movement.

House’s leg injury occurred before the main events of the series. During the crisis, doctors initially considered amputation, but House underwent a risky procedure intended to preserve the limb. The treatment saved his leg but left him with permanent damage and ongoing pain.

The injury explains several recurring details of the character: his cane, his reliance on pain medication, and his reluctance to discuss vulnerability. It also connects his physical condition to the series’ larger interest in difficult medical decisions and the consequences of treatment.

The injury is sometimes incorrectly described as a broken bone, a knee injury, or a generic accident. In the show’s backstory, the key diagnosis is a muscle infarction, specifically involving the quadriceps muscle in House’s thigh.