Gregory House uses a cane because of the permanent damage to his leg in House, M.D.
House’s limp and cane are among his most recognizable physical characteristics. The injury resulted from an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg, which left him with chronic pain and impaired mobility. He eventually had dead muscle tissue removed, but the damage remained.
The cane is more than a visual detail. House uses it while moving through the hospital, and his altered gait immediately signals both his physical vulnerability and his refusal to present himself as a conventional physician. His reliance on Vicodin for pain becomes a major storyline involving addiction, trust, and professional consequences.
House’s leg injury is sometimes incorrectly described as a simple accident or as damage caused by a car crash. In the show’s backstory, it is a vascular medical crisis. The distinction explains why the injury is permanent and why pain management remains central to his character.