In House M.D., which fictional leg condition caused Gregory House’s limp?

Gregory House’s limp in House M.D. resulted from a quadriceps infarction. The muscle infarction damaged his right thigh and led to chronic pain, reduced function, and the cane he uses throughout much of the series.

House initially received treatment that included surgery, but the damage and resulting pain shaped his later life. His dependence on Vicodin becomes a major recurring storyline, affecting his judgment, relationships, employment, and medical license. The condition is also central to the episode “Three Stories,” which gradually reveals the circumstances of his injury.

A quadriceps infarction is not the same thing as a broken bone or a simple knee injury. In House’s story, the problem involved loss of blood supply to muscle tissue. The show sometimes focuses more on the visible cane and pain medication than on the precise diagnosis, which is why viewers can remember the symptom without remembering the underlying condition.