What caused Dr. Gregory House’s chronic limp in House M.D.?

A quadriceps muscle infarction caused Dr. Gregory House’s chronic limp in House M.D. The infarction damaged muscle tissue in his right thigh after blood flow was cut off.

House initially had pain and reduced function in the leg, and doctors did not immediately recognize the extent of the damage. He ultimately chose a treatment that preserved his leg but left him with permanent muscle impairment and a distinctive limp.

The injury is also central to House’s dependence on Vicodin, an opioid painkiller. His chronic pain and addiction are recurring parts of the character’s story, affecting his judgment, relationships, employment, and attempts to stop using the medication.

The show sometimes presents House’s leg history through flashbacks and changing explanations, so viewers may confuse the muscle infarction with later surgeries or treatments. The underlying injury is specifically an infarction of the quadriceps muscle, not a broken bone or a conventional sports injury.