53 patients, >18 years of age presenting with acute unilateral scaphoid fractures, were randomized to conservative treatment with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation or a placebo treatment to determine whether PEMF accelerated union rate. Outcomes measured at 4, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 52 weeks indicated that there were no differences between PEMF and placebo groups in the time to radiological union. At 6 weeks the placebo group had fewer patients with tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox and during longitudinal compression of the scaphoid. These results demonstrate that PEMF stimulation provides no additional benefits to conservative treatment of acute scaphoid fractures.