In House M.D., an infarction injured Gregory House's right leg and caused his chronic limp.
House suffered a thrombotic event in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The resulting muscle damage left him with long-term pain and impaired movement. He uses a cane, takes prescription pain medication, and often walks with a pronounced limp throughout the series.
The injury is important to House's characterization rather than being only a medical detail. His physical disability contributes to his guarded personality, frustration, and dependence on Vicodin. The show gradually reveals more of the history behind the injury, including the delayed diagnosis and the surgical choices that followed.
A common mix-up is reversing the injured side because House often carries or moves his cane in different ways. The series consistently identifies the damaged limb as his right leg. His pain and addiction are recurring plot elements, but they do not change the anatomical fact about the original infarction.