fracture fifth metatarsil

I have fractured my left foot 5th metatarsil for the second time.
My doctor said the first time, and again, this is fracture is not typically treated with a cast but rather a rigid sole boot.
The first time I had a “delayed union,” meaning it just didn’t heal after 6 mos.
The Doc put a screw in, took it out after 6 mos. and the bone was fully healted.
The latest fracture occured in a different place, the old fracture was fine.
It happened while I was in France and two Doctors there were astonished that it wasn’t put in a cast the first time.
Has anyone else been told that a metarsil fracture is not generally treated with a cast?
It makes sense to me but everyone is/was astoninshed that I didn’t have a cast.