“Three Stories” is the House M.D. episode in which the circumstances of House’s leg infarction are explained.
The episode, from the first season, presents House teaching medical students while recounting three diagnostic cases. The structure initially makes the cases appear separate, but the narrative gradually reveals that one is connected to House’s own medical history.
House suffered an infarction in his quadriceps muscle after a blood clot blocked circulation. The resulting muscle damage caused chronic pain and contributed to his reliance on a cane. He ultimately underwent surgery that removed dead tissue but left him with permanent impairment.
“Three Stories” is notable for its unusual storytelling and for showing the personal cost behind House’s behavior. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, making it one of the most acclaimed episodes of the show.