In House M.D., what injury causes Gregory House’s permanent limp?

A quadriceps muscle infarction causes Gregory House’s permanent limp in House M.D. The infarction damaged muscle tissue in his right thigh after a blood-flow problem.

House initially experiences severe pain in his leg and undergoes treatment that includes surgery. The damage leaves him with chronic pain and an altered gait, leading him to use a cane throughout most of the series.

The backstory is revealed gradually rather than in the opening episode. House’s pain, reliance on opioid medication, and hostility toward assumptions about disability are recurring parts of his characterization.

A muscle infarction is different from a bone fracture, tendon tear, or spinal-cord injury. In House’s case, the affected tissue is the quadriceps muscle. The show also uses the injury to connect House’s physical vulnerability with his emotional guardedness and difficult behavior.