What injury caused Gregory House’s characteristic limp in House M.D.?

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

Before the series begins, House suffers an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The condition is initially misdiagnosed, and the resulting damage leaves him with chronic pain and a permanent limp. He uses a cane and relies on pain medication, especially Vicodin, to manage the consequences.

The backstory explains both House’s physical mannerisms and much of his personality. His pain affects his relationships, his willingness to trust doctors, and his fear of losing the ability to work. The injury is therefore not just a visual character detail; it drives many of the show’s medical and personal storylines.

The condition is often mistakenly described as a broken leg or a simple muscle tear. Those descriptions are not the diagnosis given in the series. An infarction means that blood supply to tissue has been blocked, causing tissue damage.