In House M.D., Dr. House's distinctive walking aid is a cane.
House walks with a cane because of a permanent injury to his right leg. The injury resulted from an infarction in the quadriceps muscle, and the resulting pain and disability become central parts of his character and medical history.
The cane is more than a prop. House uses it as a visible reminder of his pain, a practical mobility aid, and sometimes an extension of his confrontational style. Its appearance also helps distinguish him immediately in the hospital's crowded corridors. His dependence on Vicodin is closely connected to the chronic pain caused by the leg injury.
The object is sometimes misidentified as a crutch or walker because House leans on it heavily. A cane is the specific term used for his one-handed walking aid. The show also depicts variations in his gait and pain management as his injury, treatment, and addiction story develop.