Prime purpose of this article is to explain Causes of Wrist and Elbow Fractures. Elbow fractures occur from a direct blow, such as being hit with a soccer bat, or indirectly from landing with an outstretched arm with your elbow locked out straight. Symptoms of a fracture with the elbow include sudden powerful pain, swelling, bruising, inability to straighten the knee, numbness in one or maybe more fingers, pain with combined movement and tenderness. So that you can diagnose an elbow fracture, the doctor must verify the injury and take an X-ray with the joint.