In House M.D., Gregory House commonly uses a cane because of his leg injury.
House's cane is one of the character's most recognizable visual details. He has chronic pain and impaired mobility after an infarction damaged the quadriceps muscle in his right leg. The injury occurred before the main events of the series and becomes part of his backstory.
The cane supports House while walking and also becomes part of his distinctive physical mannerisms. His pain contributes to his dependence on the prescription painkiller Vicodin, which creates major personal and professional conflicts throughout the series.
The cane is sometimes confused with a crutch because House limps and relies on it heavily. A cane, however, is the specific mobility aid associated with the character. The injury, pain, and addiction storyline are fictional elements of House's biography, not a description of Hugh Laurie's health.