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

A quadriceps muscle infarction caused Gregory House to walk with a cane 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, leaving him with chronic pain, impaired mobility, and a pronounced limp.

House initially underwent treatment that preserved his leg but did not restore normal function. The injury explains his reliance on a cane and his long-term use of pain medication, both of which are central parts of the character’s physical and personal story.

The injury is often simplified as a generic leg injury or mistaken for a broken bone. In the series’ backstory, the specific problem is a muscle infarction involving the quadriceps, not a fracture, tendon tear, or spinal injury.