Help with buckle fractures?

my fiancee has an 11 year old brother. He hurt his fingers sledding and he got x-rays last night. Two buckle fractures in two fingers. They say that they are putting a cast on his hand? has anyone heard about this? i have never heard of casting fingers, neither has his mother. we were just wondering if anyone has any past experience. The fractures are in his fingers and they are not displaced or anything, just a simple fracture! Thanks so much, just dont wand him to spend 6 weeks in a cast if he doesnt need to! thanks, once again!