Gregory House regularly uses a cane to help him walk in House M.D.
House’s cane is a visible consequence of an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The injury caused chronic pain and impaired mobility, so he relies on the cane throughout much of the series. His limp and pain also influence his dependence on prescription pain medication.
The cane is more than a medical prop. House sometimes uses it as part of his physical acting, including to gesture, point, or create distance during conversations. Its design and position can vary across scenes, but the object is consistently associated with the character.
House’s mobility aid is sometimes described loosely as a crutch because both can support walking, but the show specifically depicts a cane. The underlying leg injury, rather than a simple temporary fracture, is a major part of House’s backstory and characterization.