When Tracking Fails: Analyzing Failure Modes of SAM2 for Point-Based Tracking in Surgical Videos

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Jang, Woowon, Im, Jiwon, Choi, Juseung, Rashidian, Niki, De Neve, Wesley, Ozbulak, Utku
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Jang, Woowon
Im, Jiwon
Choi, Juseung
Rashidian, Niki
De Neve, Wesley
Ozbulak, Utku
author_facet Jang, Woowon
Im, Jiwon
Choi, Juseung
Rashidian, Niki
De Neve, Wesley
Ozbulak, Utku
contents Video object segmentation (VOS) models such as SAM2 offer promising zero-shot tracking capabilities for surgical videos using minimal user input. Among the available input types, point-based tracking offers an efficient and low-cost alternative, yet its reliability and failure cases in complex surgical environments are not well understood. In this work, we systematically analyze the failure modes of point-based tracking in laparoscopic cholecystectomy videos. Focusing on three surgical targets, the gallbladder, grasper, and L-hook electrocautery, we compare the performance of point-based tracking with segmentation mask initialization. Our results show that point-based tracking is competitive for surgical tools but consistently underperforms for anatomical targets, where tissue similarity and ambiguous boundaries lead to failure. Through qualitative analysis, we reveal key factors influencing tracking outcomes and provide several actionable recommendations for selecting and placing tracking points to improve performance in surgical video analysis.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_02100
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle When Tracking Fails: Analyzing Failure Modes of SAM2 for Point-Based Tracking in Surgical Videos
Jang, Woowon
Im, Jiwon
Choi, Juseung
Rashidian, Niki
De Neve, Wesley
Ozbulak, Utku
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
Video object segmentation (VOS) models such as SAM2 offer promising zero-shot tracking capabilities for surgical videos using minimal user input. Among the available input types, point-based tracking offers an efficient and low-cost alternative, yet its reliability and failure cases in complex surgical environments are not well understood. In this work, we systematically analyze the failure modes of point-based tracking in laparoscopic cholecystectomy videos. Focusing on three surgical targets, the gallbladder, grasper, and L-hook electrocautery, we compare the performance of point-based tracking with segmentation mask initialization. Our results show that point-based tracking is competitive for surgical tools but consistently underperforms for anatomical targets, where tissue similarity and ambiguous boundaries lead to failure. Through qualitative analysis, we reveal key factors influencing tracking outcomes and provide several actionable recommendations for selecting and placing tracking points to improve performance in surgical video analysis.
title When Tracking Fails: Analyzing Failure Modes of SAM2 for Point-Based Tracking in Surgical Videos
topic Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.02100