Do you have a bump on your elbow after an injury and suspect a broken bone (fracture) or dislocation?

Is the skin on your elbow cut at the site of a suspected broken bone or dislocation?

Did your elbow pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position, then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain?

Do you have pain with swelling or bruising that began within 30 minutes of an injury?

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse?

Is a young child unable or unwilling to use his or her arm?

Do you have moderate pain that has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?

Have you had mild pain that comes and goes with no other symptoms for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is your arm pale, white, blue, or cold below the elbow?

Is your forearm, wrist, or hand pale, white, blue, or cold after having a brace, cast, or splint applied? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

Has your forearm, wrist, or hand turned pale, white, blue, or cold (even if the symptoms occur off and on), and these symptoms have not been evaluated by your doctor?

Do your symptoms come and go but they have become worse since you were evaluated by your doctor?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had new numbness or tingling in or below the elbow for more than a few minutes?

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes (intermittent) for the past 24 hours that has not been evaluated by your doctor?

Has your intermittent numbness or tingling that was checked by your doctor gotten worse over the past 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is your elbow locked in one position and you are unable to straighten or bend it?

Do you have decreased elbow movement and severe pain?

After having a brace, cast, or splint applied, are you unable to move your arm normally (not because the splint is in the way)? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

Is a young child unable or unwilling to use his or her arm?

Are you unable to move your elbow normally after 48 hours of home treatment?

Do you have decreased elbow strength after 48 hours of home treatment?

Does your elbow lock up from time to time, but it is not locked up now?

Has your elbow felt loose or unstable off and on for a long time, and your symptoms have not been evaluated by a doctor?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have swelling and the skin below the swollen area is cold or pale?

Has a lot of swelling developed within 30 minutes of an injury?

Do you have moderate swelling after 48 hours of home treatment?

Has mild swelling, without other symptoms, failed to improve after 1 week of home treatment?

Has long-term swelling gotten worse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your elbow look twisted, bent, or out of its normal position?

Are you unable to move your elbow normally?

Do you have a lot of swelling within 30 minutes of the injury?

Did you feel or hear a snap or pop in your injured elbow, but there are no changes in its appearance or movement?

Since feeling or hearing a snap or pop, does your injured elbow feel loose or unstable?

Does your elbow snap or pop, causing pain during normal movement after 24 hours of home treatment?

Does your elbow snap or pop during normal movement but does not cause pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around your elbow?

Do you have severe pain when you move your elbow?

Do you have red streaks extending from your elbow?

Is your elbow tender to the touch?

Do you have drainage of pus from your elbow?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take a medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have any signs of a skin infection around your elbow?

Do you have mild pain and swelling with redness less than around the elbow after 24 hours of home treatment?

Do you have swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your neck or armpit after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you concerned that an elbow injury may have been caused by abuse of a child or vulnerable adult?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Did a bruise that is as large as the palm of your hand develop within 30 minutes of an injury?

Did a painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of an injury?

Are you concerned about how easily you bruise?

Have bruises from an injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.