In House M.D., what injury causes Gregory House to use a cane?

A leg infarction causes Gregory House to use a cane in House M.D.

Before the series begins, House suffers an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The event damages the muscle, leaves him with chronic pain, and contributes to his distinctive limp. He uses a cane while working and frequently relies on pain medication, especially Vicodin, to manage the continuing pain.

The show reveals the history gradually rather than presenting it as a simple accident. House initially receives treatment that leaves him with lasting disability, and later storylines revisit the medical decisions and relationships surrounding the injury. The condition is central to his characterization: his physical pain, dependence on medication, and resentment affect both his behavior and his relationships.

A leg infarction is not the same as a broken bone or an ordinary sports injury. It involves loss of blood supply to muscle tissue. The fictional account is dramatized, and some medical details are debated by viewers, but the show consistently identifies the underlying event as an infarction in the quadriceps. His cane is therefore part of the character’s medical history, not just a visual prop.