WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fell and fractured her elbow as she was going to the White House on Wednesday, the department said.

Clinton, 61, was treated at nearby George Washington hospital and is expecting to undergo surgery on her right elbow "in the upcoming week."

"Secretary Clinton appreciates the professionalism and kindness she received from the medical team who treated her this evening and looks forward to resuming her full schedule soon," said her chief of staff Cheryl Mills.

The top US diplomat's jam-packed schedule will be lighter as she recovers, with no public appointments planned for Thursday.

On Wednesday Clinton was juggling a full plate, holding high-stakes talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on illegal settlements and addressing Indian business leaders at a conference to rebrand relations as "US-India 3.0."