Gregory House uses a cane because of the chronic leg injury depicted in House M.D.
House suffered an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg, a medical event that left him with lasting pain and impaired mobility. He ultimately had the dead tissue removed, but the damage produced a permanent limp and became one of the character’s most recognizable visual traits.
The cane is more than a prop: it signals House’s physical pain and reinforces the contrast between his damaged body and his exceptional diagnostic ability. His reliance on the cane also affects how colleagues and patients perceive him, sometimes becoming part of his intimidating or unconventional presence.
House’s leg injury is closely connected to his long-term use of Vicodin, a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The series repeatedly examines the consequences of that dependence, including professional discipline, withdrawal, and treatment.