Which leg injury caused Gregory House’s limp in House M.D.?

A right-thigh muscle infarction caused Gregory House’s limp in House M.D.

House suffered an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right thigh, cutting off blood flow to the muscle. The condition was initially misdiagnosed, and the resulting tissue damage led to the chronic pain and impaired walking that define his physical presentation.

House eventually had dead muscle tissue removed, leaving permanent damage and requiring a cane. The injury is central to the character’s history because it explains both his limp and his dependence on pain medication. It also influences how other characters view his disability and behavior.

The injury is often simplified as a leg injury or a blood clot, but the show specifies a muscle infarction in the right thigh. House commonly carries his cane in his right hand, a detail that has prompted discussion because it does not follow the most intuitive assumptions about supporting an injured leg.