What fictional condition causes Gregory House's limp in House M.D.?

Gregory House’s limp is caused by an infarction of the quadriceps muscle. In the series, a blood clot cuts off circulation to muscle tissue in his right thigh, causing permanent damage and chronic pain.

House initially receives treatment for the infarction, but complications and a disagreement about the seriousness of the damage shape the later course of his condition. He ultimately undergoes a dangerous procedure that removes dead muscle while preserving his leg, leaving him with lasting impairment.

The injury explains both House’s cane and much of his reliance on pain medication, but it is not simply a broken bone or an ordinary sports injury. The show reveals the history progressively, especially in “Three Stories.” The medical details are fictionalized for drama, while infarction generally means tissue damage caused by inadequate blood supply.