Gregory House usually carries a cane because of the chronic pain and disability caused by his leg injury.
House’s limp and cane are among the character’s most recognizable visual traits. Within the story, an infarction damaged the quadriceps muscle in his right leg, leaving him with lasting pain and impaired movement. He relies on a cane while continuing to work as a physician.
The cane is not merely a medical prop. House also uses it as part of his distinctive physical presence, and the show sometimes incorporates it into jokes, confrontations, and demonstrations of his impatience. His dependence on pain medication is another major part of the character’s storyline.
A cane differs from a crutch because it provides support through one hand without replacing the leg’s full weight-bearing function. The series consistently identifies House’s characteristic aid as a cane, although its design changes during some episodes.