What injury caused Dr. House to walk with a cane in House M.D.?

Dr. House walks with a cane because an infarction damaged the quadriceps muscle in his right leg. In the series, the muscle infarction caused severe, lasting pain and impaired his ability to walk normally.

House initially underwent treatment that included surgery, but the consequences remained significant. His limp and cane are visible reminders of the event and become part of his recognizable physical characterization. The injury also contributes to his dependence on pain medication.

A muscle infarction is different from a broken bone or a torn tendon. The show connects House’s condition with a vascular problem that deprived muscle tissue of blood, making the precise diagnosis important to the character’s backstory. The cane is therefore not merely a visual prop or unexplained habit.