In House M.D., what muscle suffered the infarction that caused Dr. House’s leg disability?

Dr. House’s leg disability was caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle in House M.D.

House suffers the infarction in the quadriceps of his right leg, leaving permanent muscle damage and chronic pain. He walks with a cane and relies on prescription pain medication, especially Vicodin, throughout much of the series.

The injury happened before the show begins and is explained through flashbacks and conversations. House initially undergoes surgery that removes dead muscle tissue, but the damage and resulting pain remain major parts of his character.

The injury is often described too generally as a leg injury or mistaken for a bone problem. It is specifically an infarction of muscle tissue, meaning its blood supply was blocked and the tissue died. The resulting disability shapes House’s movement, behavior, and addiction storyline.