What injury causes Dr. House's permanent limp in House M.D.?

A quadriceps muscle infarction causes Dr. House’s permanent limp in House M.D.

House suffers an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The event cuts off blood supply to muscle tissue, causing severe damage and leaving him with chronic pain, weakness, and a distinctive limp. He later relies on a cane and takes pain medication, especially Vicodin.

The show reveals that House initially delayed treatment because he trusted his own ability to diagnose himself and because of complicated personal circumstances. Doctors ultimately remove dead muscle tissue rather than amputating the leg. The resulting disability becomes a major part of House’s identity and influences his behavior throughout the series.

The injury is often simplified as a broken leg, but that is not the diagnosis given in the show. It is also not primarily a bone injury or a spinal injury. The quadriceps is a group of muscles at the front of the thigh, and the infarction explains why House’s pain and mobility problems persist long after the original event.