Which fictional pain condition caused House’s limp in House M.D.?

House’s limp was caused by an infarction of the quadriceps muscle in House M.D.

Before the series begins, House suffers a vascular infarction in his right thigh. The muscle tissue dies, and surgeons remove damaged tissue, leaving him with chronic pain and a characteristic limp. He uses a cane and takes pain medication, especially Vicodin, to manage the condition.

The infarction is central to House’s history because it affects his mobility, temperament, and dependence on medication. It also becomes a source of professional insight: House understands chronic pain personally while often treating patients in an emotionally detached way.

The condition is sometimes incorrectly described as a leg fracture or a simple muscle injury. House did undergo a serious operation, but the underlying event was ischemic damage to the quadriceps, not a broken bone or spinal injury.