In House M.D., which leg was affected by Gregory House’s muscle infarction?

Gregory House’s muscle infarction affected his right leg. The fictional medical event damaged muscle in his right thigh and left him with chronic pain, a limp, and a need for a cane.

House’s leg injury is central to his character rather than a minor piece of backstory. Before the main events of the series, an infarction cut off blood supply to muscle in his thigh. Doctors removed damaged tissue, but House retained long-term disability and pain. His use of Vicodin becomes a recurring element of the drama and contributes to several major storylines.

The condition is often described loosely as a leg injury, but the specific side is the right leg. It is also not presented as a conventional broken bone or ordinary muscle strain. The show uses the injury to connect House’s physical suffering with his abrasive behavior, diagnostic obsession, and conflicted attitude toward dependence on medication.