In House M.D., what is the name of the infarction that caused House’s chronic leg pain?

In House M.D., Gregory House’s chronic leg pain results from a quadriceps infarction.

The infarction occurred when a blood clot blocked circulation to muscle tissue in his right thigh. The damaged quadriceps muscle was not removed promptly, leading to permanent injury, pain, and impaired use of the leg.

House eventually walks with a cane and relies on pain medication. His limp is not simply a result of a broken bone; it reflects the lasting consequences of ischemic muscle damage. The medical history also explains why he is highly protective of the leg and why physical pain is central to his character.

The show reveals details of the event gradually, so viewers may encounter several descriptions of the injury before learning the specific diagnosis. It is often incorrectly summarized as a leg fracture or a generic muscle injury, but the named condition is quadriceps infarction.