In House M.D., what is the name of House's cane-bearing leg condition?

In House M.D., Gregory House's chronic leg problem began with a quadriceps muscle infarction.

The condition is presented as an infarction of the quadriceps muscle, meaning that blood flow to part of the muscle was blocked and the tissue was damaged. House undergoes treatment that saves his leg but leaves him with chronic pain and impaired mobility. He consequently walks with a cane and relies on pain medication, especially Vicodin, during much of the series.

The condition is central to House's character rather than a minor piece of backstory. His pain, disability, and dependence on medication influence his relationships, judgment, and professional behavior. The show revisits the history through flashbacks and discussions with colleagues and patients.

Viewers sometimes describe House's problem simply as a “bad leg” or assume it was caused by a fracture. The series identifies the underlying event as a quadriceps muscle infarction, not a broken bone or a generic nerve disorder.