What fictional diagnosis explains Gregory House’s limp in House M.D.?

Gregory House’s limp is caused by a quadriceps muscle infarction in House M.D.

The infarction damaged muscle in House’s right thigh after a clot blocked blood flow. The resulting injury caused chronic pain, weakness, and the characteristic limp for which he uses a cane. The condition is a central part of his physical appearance and his dependence on pain medication.

House’s medical history is gradually revealed rather than explained immediately. He had initially been misdiagnosed, and the delayed recognition of the infarction contributed to permanent damage. His former partner Stacy Warner later became closely associated with the decisions made during that crisis.

The injury is often inaccurately described as a simple leg fracture or a generic accident. It is specifically an infarction, meaning tissue death caused by inadequate blood supply, affecting the quadriceps muscle rather than a bone.