A method and device for tracking objects by surgical navigation systems. The method includes: capturing an image of the tracked object; determining whether a unique identifiable feature associated with at least one totem pattern is discernible in the image; when the unique identifiable feature is discernible: determining a position or an orientation of the tracked object based on the at least one totem pattern; and registering the at least one totem pattern in the surgical coordinate space; and when the unique identifiable feature is indiscernible: determining a position of each totem pattern relative to other totem patterns such that a combination of totem patterns within the captured image is a marker group detectable as a composite totem pattern; determining a position or an orientation of the tracked object based on the composite totem pattern associated with the tracked object; and registering the composite totem pattern in the surgical coordinate space.