What caused Gregory House's limp in House M.D.?
Answer
A muscle infarction in his thigh
Gregory House’s limp was caused by a muscle infarction in his thigh in House M.D.
The infarction damaged the quadriceps muscle in House’s right leg. He initially chose an aggressive treatment that preserved the leg but left him with chronic pain and impaired use. His resulting limp is one of the character’s most recognizable physical traits.
House manages the pain with a cane and prescription medication, especially Vicodin. The medication becomes a major part of his character arc because dependence, withdrawal, and addiction repeatedly affect his judgment, relationships, and career.
The injury is sometimes misremembered as a broken leg or a conventional joint problem. In the show’s backstory, the muscle infarction is specifically the medical event that leads to the lasting damage and pain.