What caused Gregory House’s leg disability in House M.D.?

Gregory House’s leg disability was caused by a quadriceps muscle infarction in House M.D.

Before the series begins, House suffered an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The muscle tissue died after its blood supply was blocked, and the resulting damage left him with chronic pain and a pronounced limp.

House initially underwent surgery intended to preserve the leg, but complications and disagreements about treatment shaped the outcome. He ultimately had damaged muscle removed, leaving permanent impairment. He commonly manages the pain with Vicodin, a dependence that becomes a major part of his personal and professional story.

The condition is often mistakenly described as a heart attack because “infarction” is widely associated with the heart. In House’s case, it affected skeletal muscle in the thigh. The show reveals the backstory gradually, especially through flashbacks and conversations involving Stacy Warner, House’s former partner and former lawyer.